The Federal Government has directed all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to stop placing civil servants on compulsory three-month pre-retirement leave, declaring that the practice is not recognised under existing public service rules.
The directive was issued in a circular signed by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Walson-Jack, and addressed to ministers, permanent secretaries, heads of agencies, service chiefs, and other senior government officials.
In the circular titled “Correct Interpretation of Public Service Rule 120243 on Pre-Retirement Activities,” the Head of Service explained that several MDAs had wrongly interpreted the mandatory three-month retirement notice period as a leave entitlement, leading to the premature withdrawal of officers from active service.
Walson-Jack clarified that the rule only requires officers approaching retirement to issue a three-month notice, attend a one-month pre-retirement seminar, and use the remaining period to process pension and service documentation.
“The so-called mandatory three-month pre-retirement leave has no basis in the Public Service Rules,” she stated.
She further explained that retiring officers are expected to remain in active service throughout the notice period and continue performing their official duties unless they are attending approved retirement programmes or have been granted leave under existing regulations.
According to the circular, the notice period should not be treated as a period of absence from duty.
“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 noted.
The Federal Government therefore directed all MDAs to strictly comply with the clarification by ensuring that retiring officers remain at their duty posts until their official retirement dates while completing all pension and retirement-related processes.
The directive is expected to standardise retirement procedures across the federal civil service and prevent the early disengagement of experienced personnel from government institutions.
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