If I will go by the literal meaning of the word "permanent" I presume that it should mean something without end, something eternal. But it it always gets me confused when the permanent secretaries are sometimes sacked or redeployed to other areas of assignments. What really is the meaning of permanent secretary and the Nigerian context? What is their role? I only used Nigeria because of my timid experience. I don't know whether such is the practice elsewhere.

It comes from the UK. Ministers are called "secretaries of state". E.g foreign secretary. The minister is a political appointment - political secretary. The permanent secretary is a civil servant heading the ministry. He is "permanent" in the sense that his position shouldn't change when a different party comes in. It means civil servants are permanent till retirement while political rulers last until they are voted out.

Naijiant:
It comes from the UK. Ministers are called "secretaries of state". E.g foreign secretary. The minister is a political appointment - political secretary. The permanent secretary is a civil servant heading the ministry. He is "permanent" in the sense that his position shouldn't change when a different party comes in. It means civil servants are permanent till retirement while political rulers last until they are voted out.

Gbam !!! Couldn't have said it better.

Ok. Mostly career positions in the ministry.

Naijiant:
It comes from the UK. Ministers are called "secretaries of state". E.g foreign secretary. The minister is a political appointment - political secretary. The permanent secretary is a civil servant heading the ministry. He is "permanent" in the sense that his position shouldn't change when a different party comes in. It means civil servants are permanent till retirement while political rulers last until they are voted out.

Thanks for the enlightenment