FEDERAL MINISTRY OF JUSTICE
PRESS RELEASE
MINISTRY OF JUSTICE UNVEILS PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, DROPS APER
In line with the ongoing reforms to reposition the Federal Public Service, the Federal Ministry of Justice has dropped the Annual Performance Evaluation Report (APER) and now replaced it with the Performance Management System (PMS).
The PMS is one of the key pillars of FCSSIP 2017-2020 and it’s the subsequent FCSSIP25 outlined strategies of its implementation. It was designed and introduced in 2017 through the document known as the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan (FCSSIP), while the Performance Management System was incorporated in the reviewed Public Service Rules 2021 as a way of repositioning the Federal Public Service to become the Efficient, Productive, Incorruptible, and Citizen-centered service (EPIC).
The Solicitor General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Beatrice Jedy-Agba, OON, mni made this known while speaking at the launching ceremony on Thursday 10th October, 2024.
She noted that APER can no longer be used for promotion in the Service, saying it has outlived its usefulness.
She stated that, “APER has been replaced with the Performance Management System which implies that no officer will be promoted without showing evidence of work done.
“It is now compulsory for officers seeking for promotion to the next Grade Level to be appraised and evaluated through PMS. It has provided indices for career management, capacity building (training) and consequence management (rewards and sanctions).
“The Federal Ministry of Justice do not operate in isolation, it is part of the larger Federal Civil Service whose operations are guided in accordance with policy direction of the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, The Office supervising the implementation of PMS.
“The Ministry commenced the PMS implementation with training and retraining of staff on PMS implementation since 2022 even when there was paucity of training Vote/funds. The training has and will continue, in order to ensure that staff gets the best in acquiring relevant knowledge”.
Jedy-Agba disclosed that, “The Ministry has also commenced activities towards integrating MPMS into EPMS where both PRS and HRM Departments were properly engaged throughout the processes. The Ministry started by developing a strategic Plan by integrating Departmental Work plans into the Ministry’s work plan. The Ministry work plan was inspired by several documents including the National Development Plan, the Presidential priorities, National Policy on Justice and the FCSSIP25.
She explained that the efforts continued with the integration of MPMS into EPMS, Integrated MPMS into Employee Performance Contract (EPMS) through workshops for Grade level 07 to 17. According to her, “the training process was directed at specific Grade Levels for over 650 staff of the Ministry, focusing on building their knowledge, capacities and developing their Employee Performance Contract.
She acknowledged that the Ministry support from the OHCSF and has engaged a Consultant that has the ability to support the implementation of PMS in line with the policy and criteria of the OHCSF.
She declared that PMS Day has been designed to create awareness, review performance and provide feedback on its implementation. ”This will provide basis to recognize and reward outstanding Supervisors. This initiative aims at fostering a culture of continuous improvement, while keeping staff motivated and aligned with the ministry’s goals.
Departmental PMS Champions and Core team to support PMS Day commemoration will be handy to provide necessary assistance to get Staff aligned to the new reality”. She buttressed.
Giving her own remarks, the Director Human Resource Management Department, Mrs. Mabel Erastus disclosed that APER forms for promotion no longer exist.
She stated further: “All that is required of staff is to show evidence and be appraised by the work you do in the office.
“The directive given by the Head of Service is that all MDAs including the Federal Ministry of Justice are to set aside Thursday every week to create awareness, acquaint themselves with the provisions and implementation of PMS.
“In compliance with the directives the Federal Ministry of Justice is commencing the commemoration of PMS Day today, Thursday, 10th October, 2024.
“We in the Human Resource Department are committed to ensuring the implementation of PMS and success of the PMS Day. The Department will take attendance and ensure the process for consequence management in PMS Day activities. The Department will provide procedure of ensuring the all that undermine the directives of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation are brought to book. Staff are therefore, enjoined to reciprocate Ministry’s continuous training exercises by observing the Day through participation in all activities.
Modupe Ogundoro
Director, I & PR
10th October, 2024
