Civil servants granted poll greenlight

re-apply for their jobs in the event that they lose in the polls.

According to a circular released by the Public Service Ministry to all Government departments, civil servants would be allowed to contest in the forthcoming elections.

Soon after the release of the guidelines last week pertaining to the process of contesting in the elections, some civil servant bodies expressed concern over the guidelines and said there should be a guarantee for the Government workers to retain their jobs after the elections.

According to the circular, a civil servant is deemed to have resigned from the public service on the date of being given permission to run for public office by the PSC.

It says that for participation in parliamentary elections, a member would be deemed to have resigned from the service with effect from the date of acceptance of his or her nomination by the Nomination Court.

However, according to a circular, civil servants have a right to re-apply to the Commission within a period ranging between 30 and 90 days after the elections.

The circular reads that for members seeking election in local authority, there is an allowance of 30 days to which they could re-apply for re-instatement.

“If a member abandons his candidature or fails to be elected, the member should apply to the Commission 30 days after the election for re-instatement,” reads the circular.

It also states that those seeking election to Parliament have 90 days within which they can re-apply to rejoin the public service.

“The Commission may re-appoint him subject to the terms and conditions as fixed by the Commission to any post or office with effect from date he or she ceased to be member,” reads the circular.

The circular also says the period between the date of ceasing to be a member and assuming duty after re-appointment is to be treated as leave without pay.

Some civil servants expressed enthusiasm in taking part in the forthcoming elections but expressed concern over getting their jobs back as well as the little time left before the polls.