馃嚦馃嚞NigeriaWest Africa
Federal Government mandates HR certification for civil servants within 12 months
via Punch Nigeria3 min read
The Federal Government has issued a directive requiring civil servants in human resource roles across ministries, departments, and agencies to obtain approved professional certifications within a year. This initiative aims to professionalize HR management within the Federal Civil Service. A circular from the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation grants a 12-month moratorium for officers to acquire recognized certifications. Failure to comply will result in ineligibility for key personnel management positions. The policy outlines certification requirements, transitional arrangements, and conditions for deploying administrative cadre officers to HR roles. Recognized certifications include those from the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria, the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, the Society for Human Resource Management, the Human Resource Certification Institute, and Chartered Professionals in Human Resources. During the transition, officers can remain in their current positions or be deployed to HR-related duties if they provide verifiable evidence of enrollment and progress towards certification within six months. After the moratorium, an approved HR certification will be mandatory for deployment to HR roles in various federal institutions. This directive, effective immediately, is part of ongoing reforms to enhance professionalism and efficiency in public service personnel administration, aligning with global best practic
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.
Must ReadThe United States has imposed a 12.5% tariff on imports from Nigeria, among 60 economies, as part of a new trade measure targeting countries that have not prohibited the importation of goods produced with forced labor. This measure was announced by the Office of the United States Trade Representative USTR on Thursday. Countries like India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, and the United Kingdom will face a 10% tariff after adopting or committing to implement bans on imports linked to forced labor. The USTR launched investigations in May 2026 into 60 of the largest US trading partners under Section 301 of the Trade Act, receiving over 1,600 written submissions and holding public hearings. The USTR stated that the 12.5% rate applies to all other investigated economies that have not implemented or committed to implementing forced labor import prohibitions. A Federal Register notice confirmed the 12.5% tariff on Nigerian products, with specific exemptions. US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer indicated the action aims to encourage trading partners to strengthen measures against forced labor, noting that the US has had a forced labor import ban for nearly a century. Tariffs will not apply to certain products, including raw materials, goods causing economy-wide disruptions, products unavailable in sufficient quantities in the US or from alternative sources, and selected goods from countries that have adopted or pledged to implement forced labor import bans.
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