PREAMBLE

The civil service Rule did not undergo any review during the long years of Military Rule in Nigeria. Most of the rules became out of tune with realities.

With the advent of the Fourth Republic, however, efforts are now being geared towards its review in order to fully entrench the rule of law in our society.

The Abia State Public Service Rule has been reviewed from, the Federal Public Service. It has been tailored to fall in line with the realities in Abia State. However, like the Federal Civil Service Rule, the Abia State Public Service Rules apply to the entire Abia State Public Service including the Governor, the Deputy Governor etc. hence Rule 01001 which stipulates inter alia:

"These Public Service Rules apply to all officers except where they conflict with the specific terms approved by the Federal Government and written into the contract of employment or letters of appointment. In so far as the holders of the offices of the Governor, the Deputy Governor etc. and any other similar organ that derive their appointment from the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria are concerned, these Rules apply only to the extent that they are not inconsistent with the provisions of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in so far as their conditions of service and any other law applicable to these officers are concerned"

The Abia State Public Service Rules should be read in conjunction with circular Instructions and Gazette Notices on the same subjects issued on or after 1st January 2001.

Each Rule has been given a number containing five digits of which the first two indicate chapter, the third indicates the section within the chapter while the last two give the number of the individual Rule within the Section. E.g. Rule 04207 means the seventh Rule in section two of chapter four.

As usual amendments to these Rules shall be made through circulars which would be issued from time to time.

Public servants in Abia State are encouraged to avail themselves of the opportunity of its publication and to get fully informed of the Rules contained therein and to serve as reference document.