The Federal Government has directed all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to immediately stop the practice of placing civil servants on a compulsory three-month pre-retirement leave, stating that such a provision does not exist in the Public Service Rules (PSR).
The directive was conveyed in a circular issued by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Walson-Jack, and addressed to ministers, permanent secretaries, service chiefs, heads of agencies and other senior public officials.
In the circular titled, “Correct Interpretation of Public Service Rule 120243 on Pre-Retirement Activities,” Walson-Jack said many MDAs had wrongly interpreted the mandatory retirement notice period as an automatic leave period, resulting in the premature withdrawal of officers from active service.
She explained that the Public Service Rule only requires officers approaching retirement to issue a three-month notice before retirement, attend a one-month pre-retirement seminar or workshop, and utilise the remaining period to regularise service records and pension documentation.
According to her, the so-called mandatory three-month pre-retirement leave has no basis in the Public Service Rules.
Walson-Jack clarified that Rule 120243 provides for three separate obligations: issuance of retirement notice, participation in a pre-retirement seminar during the first month, and completion of retirement documentation within the remaining two months.
“A retiring officer must give three months’ notice before the effective date of retirement. This is a notice requirement, not a leave entitlement,” the circular stated.
The Head of Service stressed that officers due for retirement remain in active service throughout the notice period and are expected to continue carrying out their official duties, except when attending approved pre-retirement workshops or when granted leave in line with existing 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,” the circular added.
Consequently, all MDAs have been directed to stop compelling officers nearing retirement to vacate their offices before their official retirement dates.
Under the new directive, ministries and agencies are required to ensure that retiring officers continue to discharge their duties, participate in approved pre-retirement programmes, and complete all pension and service record reconciliations before exiting the service.
The circular also instructed permanent secretaries, directors-general, executive secretaries, chairpersons of statutory agencies and chief executives of government organisations to bring the directive to the attention of all staff and ensure strict compliance.
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