The federal government has directed all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to immediately end the long-standing practice of placing civil servants on a compulsory three-month pre-retirement leave, clarifying that such a provision does not exist in the public service rules.
Key Highlights:
- No more automatic 3-month pre-retirement leave.
- 3 months’ notice is required, but officers keep working.
- Retiring staff must attend pre-retirement training.
- Pension and service records must be completed before exit.
- The change aims to improve workforce productivity and compliance.
The directive was issued by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack, through a circular addressed to ministers, permanent secretaries, service chiefs, directors-general, executive secretaries and heads of federal government agencies.
In the circular titled: “Correct Interpretation of Public Service Rule 120243 on Pre-Retirement Activities,” the head of service explained that several MDAs had been incorrectly treating the mandatory three-month retirement notice period as an entitlement to leave, resulting in officers being withdrawn from active service before their official retirement dates.
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According to the circular, Rule 120243 only requires public servants approaching retirement to give three months’ notice, participate in a one-month pre-retirement seminar or workshop, and use the remaining period to reconcile service records and complete pension-related documentation.
Walson-Jack on Tuesday emphasized that the public service rules do not provide for an automatic three-month leave before retirement.
She explained that the rule imposes three separate obligations rather than granting retiring officers a leave entitlement.
“A retiring officer must give three months’ notice before their effective date of retirement. This is a notice requirement, not a leave entitlement,” the circular stated.
The head of service further noted that officers nearing retirement remain employees of the federal government throughout the notice period and are expected to continue performing their official duties unless they are attending approved pre-retirement programmes or have been granted leave under existing regulations.
The circular added that Rule 120243 does not excuse retiring officers from work during the notice period except in cases where they are participating in approved retirement workshops or are absent under other authorised leave provisions.
As a result, all MDAs have been instructed to stop directing officers approaching retirement to vacate their positions before their official retirement dates.
Under the new directive, retiring civil servants are expected to remain at work, attend approved pre-retirement programmes and complete all pension and service documentation before formally exiting the public service.
Heads of federal institutions have also been directed to communicate the new interpretation to staff and ensure full compliance across the public service.
The clarification is expected to impact thousands of federal civil servants who retire annually.
For years, many MDAs routinely allowed officers to stop reporting for duty once retirement notices were submitted, effectively treating the notice period as a form of extended leave despite the absence of any explicit provision in the rules.
That practice often resulted in experienced personnel leaving active service months before their official retirement dates while awaiting pension processing and administrative clearances.
Government officials believe the new interpretation will strengthen workforce utilisation and improve service delivery by ensuring that retiring officers continue contributing their expertise until their final day in office.
The country’s retirement framework, governed by the Public Service Rules and the Pension Reform Act, requires civil servants to retire either after 35 years of service or upon attaining 60 years of age, whichever comes first.
The government said the clarification is also intended to eliminate longstanding ambiguities surrounding retirement procedures while reinforcing the proper application of the public service rules across federal institutions.
