The Federal Government has directed all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to immediately stop the practice of placing civil servants on a so-called mandatory three-month pre-retirement leave, declaring that no such provision exists under the Public Service Rules.
The directive was issued by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Walson-Jack, in a circular addressed to ministers, permanent secretaries, service chiefs, directors-general, executive secretaries and heads of government agencies.
Titled “Correct Interpretation of Public Service Rule 120243 on Pre-Retirement Activities,” the circular stated that several MDAs had been misinterpreting the retirement notice period as an automatic leave entitlement, leading to the premature disengagement of officers before their official retirement dates.
According to Walson-Jack, the Public Service Rule only requires retiring officers to give three months’ notice of retirement, attend a one-month pre-retirement seminar or workshop, and use the remaining period to reconcile service records and process pension documentation.
She stressed that the widely practised “mandatory three-month pre-retirement leave” has no legal backing in the Public Service Rules.
“The so-called ‘mandatory three-month pre-retirement leave’ has no basis in the Public Service Rules,” the circular stated.
Clarifying Rule 120243, she explained that the provision creates obligations rather than an entitlement to leave.
“A retiring officer must give three months’ notice before their effective date of retirement. This is a notice requirement, not a leave entitlement,” she said.
The Head of Service further noted that civil servants approaching retirement remain in active service throughout the notice period and are expected to continue performing their duties, except when attending approved pre-retirement programmes or granted leave under existing regulations.
“PSR 120243 does not exempt retiring officers from official duties during the notice period, except where they are attending an approved pre-retirement workshop or seminar, or are otherwise authorised to be absent under extant leave rules,” the circular added.
Under the new directive, MDAs are instructed to stop compelling officers to vacate their positions before their official retirement dates. Retiring officers are expected to remain on duty, participate in approved programmes, and complete all necessary pension and service documentation before exiting the service.
The circular also directed all heads of government institutions to ensure strict compliance and to circulate the directive to all staff.
For years, many MDAs had treated the three-month notice period as a form of compulsory leave, effectively removing officers from duty months before retirement. The Federal Government said the practice had no basis in the rules and needed urgent correction.
Nigeria’s civil service retirement system, governed by the Public Service Rules and the Pension Reform Act, provides for retirement at either 60 years of age or 35 years of service, whichever comes first.
The government noted that the clarification is expected to improve manpower utilisation and strengthen service delivery by ensuring that retiring officers remain in service until their final official day.
