Federal Govt abolishes mandatory three-month pre-retirement leave for civil servants
Federal Govt abolishes mandatory three-month pre-retirement leave for civil servants
The Federal Government has directed all ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to stop the practice of placing civil servants on compulsory three-month leave ahead of retirement, clarifying that such a provision does not exist in the Public Service Rules.
The directive was contained in a circular titled “Correct Interpretation of Public Service Rule 120243 on Pre-Retirement Activities” issued by Didi Walson-Jack, according to Channels Television.
Addressed to ministers, permanent secretaries, service chiefs, heads of agencies and other senior government officials, the circular explained that the three-month period stipulated under the rules is merely a notice requirement and should not be interpreted as automatic leave.
Walson-Jack said several government institutions had wrongly treated the notice period as a mandatory pre-retirement absence, leading to officers being removed from active service before their official retirement dates.
She explained that Public Service Rule 120243 only requires officers nearing retirement to notify their employers three months before retirement, attend a one-month pre-retirement workshop or seminar, and use the remaining time 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,” the circular stated.
“A retiring officer must give three months’ notice before the effective date of retirement. This is a notice requirement, not a leave entitlement.”
The Head of Service stressed that retiring officers remain full members of the workforce during the notice period and are expected to continue carrying out their responsibilities except when attending approved retirement programmes or when 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,” Walson-Jack was quoted as saying.
She consequently ordered all MDAs to discontinue the practice of directing officers to vacate their positions before their official retirement dates.
Under the revised interpretation, officers approaching retirement are expected to remain on duty while simultaneously participating in approved pre-retirement activities and completing documentation required for pension processing.
According to Walson-Jack, the clarification is intended to ensure uniform application of the Public Service Rules across government institutions and to prevent the premature loss of experienced personnel from the civil service.
The circular also instructed permanent secretaries, directors-general, executive secretaries, chairpersons of statutory bodies and chief executives of government agencies to ensure strict compliance with the directive.
Nigeria’s public service retirement system, guided by the Public Service Rules and the Pension Reform Act, mandates retirement after 35 years of service or upon attaining the age of 60 years, whichever comes first.
The government said the clarification would enhance service delivery by enabling experienced officers to continue contributing to the public service until their official retirement dates while completing the necessary administrative procedures for their retirement benefits.
