The Federal Government has directed Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to discontinue the practice of placing civil servants on a mandatory three-month pre-retirement leave, clarifying that such a provision does not exist in the Public Service Rules (PSR).

The directive was conveyed in a circular titled “Correct Interpretation of Public Service Rule 120243 on Pre-Retirement Activities,” 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 public sector officials.

According to the circular, several MDAs had misinterpreted the three-month retirement notice period as an automatic leave period, resulting in the premature withdrawal of officers from active service before their official retirement dates.

Walson-Jack stated that Rule 120243 of the Public Service Rules only requires officers approaching retirement to give three months’ notice of their intention to retire, attend a one-month pre-retirement workshop or seminar, and use the remaining period to reconcile service records and complete pension-related documentation.

“The so-called mandatory three-month pre-retirement leave has no basis in the Public Service Rules,” she said.

She explained that the rule establishes three separate obligations: notification of retirement, participation in approved pre-retirement programmes, and completion of administrative requirements ahead of retirement.

“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.

The Head of Service emphasised that officers due for retirement remain in active service throughout the notice period and are expected to continue discharging their official responsibilities, except when attending approved pre-retirement seminars or when otherwise authorised to be absent under existing leave 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.

Consequently, all MDAs have been directed to stop compelling retiring officers to vacate their positions before their official retirement dates. Ministries and agencies are also required to ensure that affected officers continue to perform their duties, participate in approved pre-retirement programmes and complete all pension and service record reconciliations before exiting the service.

Nigeria’s federal civil service retirement framework is governed by the Public Service Rules and the Pension Reform Act. Under the existing regulations, civil servants retire upon attaining 60 years of age or after completing 35 years of service, whichever comes first.

The government said the clarification is aimed at standardising the implementation of retirement procedures across MDAs and preventing the loss of experienced personnel through premature disengagement.

The circular further directed permanent secretaries, directors-general, executive secretaries, chairpersons of statutory agencies and chief executives of government organisations to bring the directive to the attention of all staff and ensure strict compliance.

The Federal Government expressed confidence that the measure would strengthen service delivery by enabling retiring officers to continue contributing their expertise until their official retirement dates while completing the administrative processes required for pension benefits.

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