June 2, 2026 | SUNTV Global Channel
The Federal Government of Nigeria has ordered Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to immediately stop the practice of placing civil servants on a mandatory three-month pre-retirement leave, declaring that the policy has no basis in the country’s Public Service Rules.
The directive was issued by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Walson-Jack, through an official circular addressed to top government officials, including ministers, permanent secretaries, service chiefs, directors-general, and heads of agencies.
In the circular titled “Correct Interpretation of Public Service Rule 120243 on Pre-Retirement Activities,” the Head of Service clarified that the widely practiced three-month pre-retirement leave was a misinterpretation of existing regulations.
According to her, the Public Service Rule only requires retiring officers to give a three-month notice of retirement, attend a one-month pre-retirement seminar, and use the remaining period to conclude administrative processes such as pension documentation and service record verification.
She stressed that the notice period is not a form of leave entitlement, but a mandatory administrative requirement.
“The so-called mandatory three-month pre-retirement leave has no basis in the Public Service Rules,” the circular stated.
Walson-Jack further explained that civil servants approaching retirement remain active employees of the Federal Government until their official exit date and are expected to continue performing their duties, except when attending approved retirement programmes or granted official leave under existing rules.
She directed all MDAs to immediately discontinue the practice of compelling retiring officers to vacate their offices before their due retirement date.
Under the new clarification, affected officers will now be required to remain in service, participate in approved pre-retirement training, and complete all necessary pension and documentation processes before exiting the civil service.
The Office of the Head of Civil Service noted that the reform is aimed at improving manpower utilisation, reducing confusion in retirement procedures, and ensuring better continuity in public service delivery.
The circular is expected to affect thousands of federal civil servants annually, many of whom had previously been asked to proceed on early leave months before their official retirement dates.
The Federal Government maintained that the updated interpretation aligns strictly with the Public Service Rules and the Pension Reform Act, which stipulate retirement at either 60 years of age or 35 years of service, whichever comes first.
Officials say the new directive will also help address long-standing challenges in pension processing and personnel record reconciliation across MDAs.
