The Office of the Ombudsman wishes to remind all Directors General of government ministries of their legal obligation under Section 13A of the Leadership Code Act to notify the Ombudsman of any appointment or removal of a leader within their respective ministries.

A recent amendment to the Leadership Code Act makes this obligation mandatory. Section 13A provides that: “A director general must, within 14 days after the appointment or removal of a leader from a position under his or her responsible ministry, inform the Ombudsman of the appointment or removal.”

This requirement applies regardless of the reason for the appointment or removal and is not discretionary. The amendment was enacted to strengthen the Ombudsman’s registry of leaders, ensuring that records remain accurate, up to date, and reflective of current leadership positions across government ministries.

The Office of the Ombudsman encourages all ministries to review their internal procedures to ensure that notifications of leadership appointments or removals are submitted within the prescribed 14 day timeframe.