Government says the practice has no basis in Public Service Rules, directs retiring officers to remain on duty until official retirement dates.
The Federal Government has directed all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to immediately discontinue the long-standing practice of placing civil servants on a mandatory three-month pre-retirement leave, stating that such a provision does not exist in the Public Service Rules.
The directive was issued by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack, in a circular addressed to ministers, permanent secretaries, service chiefs, heads of agencies and other senior government officials. According to the circular, several MDAs had wrongly interpreted the required three-month retirement notice period as an automatic leave arrangement, leading to the premature withdrawal of officers from active service before their official retirement dates.
Walson-Jack clarified that Public Service Rule 120243 only requires retiring officers to give three months’ notice, attend a one-month pre-retirement workshop or seminar, and use the remaining period to reconcile service records and pension documentation. She stressed that retiring officers remain full public servants during the notice period and must continue carrying out their official duties unless attending approved retirement programmes or granted leave under existing regulations.
The government said the move is aimed at standardising the implementation of public service rules, preventing the loss of experienced manpower, improving service delivery, and ensuring retiring officers continue contributing their expertise while completing the documentation required for a smooth transition into retirement.