The Federal Government has directed all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to immediately discontinue the practice of placing civil servants on a mandatory three-month pre-retirement leave, stating that the arrangement has no basis in the Public Service Rules.
The directive was conveyed in a circular issued by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack, and addressed to ministers, permanent secretaries, service chiefs, heads of agencies and other senior government officials.
Titled “Correct Interpretation of Public Service Rule 120243 on Pre-Retirement Activities,” the circular clarified that several MDAs had wrongly interpreted the required retirement notice period as an automatic leave period, resulting in officers being relieved of their duties before their official retirement dates.
According to Walson-Jack, the Public Service Rule only requires officers approaching retirement to give three months’ notice, attend a mandatory one-month pre-retirement seminar, and use the remaining period to complete pension and other retirement-related documentation.
She stressed that the so-called mandatory three-month pre-retirement leave is not recognised under the Public Service Rules.
“A retiring officer must give three months’ notice before the effective date of retirement. This is a notice requirement, not a leave entitlement,” the circular stated.
Walson-Jack explained that officers due for retirement remain in active service throughout the notice period and are expected to continue performing their official duties, except when attending approved pre-retirement programmes or when granted leave in accordance with existing regulations.
“PSR 120243 does not exempt retiring officers from official duties during the notice period,” she added.
The Federal Government therefore directed all MDAs to stop compelling officers to vacate their positions before their official retirement dates, warning that such actions are inconsistent with the provisions of the Public Service Rules.
Under the directive, retiring officers are expected to continue discharging their responsibilities while participating in approved pre-retirement programmes and completing all necessary pension documentation.
