• The Federal Government has abolished the long-standing practice of mandatory three-month pre-retirement leave for civil servants
• The government clarified that the three-month period is a retirement notice window, not a leave entitlement
• The government says the move will improve service delivery and prevent the loss of experienced manpower before retirement

The Federal Government has ordered all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to stop placing civil servants on the widely practiced three-month pre-retirement leave, stating that such a provision is not contained in the Public Service Rules (PSR).

The directive was issued through a circular signed by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack, and sent to ministers, permanent secretaries, service chiefs, heads of agencies and other senior government officials.

In the circular titled "Correct Interpretation of Public Service Rule 120243 on Pre-Retirement Activities," the Head of Service clarified that many MDAs have misinterpreted the three-month retirement notice period as a compulsory leave period, resulting in officers being withdrawn from active duty before their official retirement dates.

According to Walson-Jack, the Public Service Rule only requires officers nearing retirement to give three months' notice, attend a one-month pre-retirement workshop or seminar, and use the remaining period to complete service record reconciliation and pension documentation.

She stressed that, “The so-called ‘mandatory three-month pre-retirement leave’ has no basis in the Public Service Rules.”

The circular further explained that Rule 120243 outlines three separate obligations for retiring officers: providing advance notice of retirement, participating in approved pre-retirement programmes, and finalising retirement-related documentation.

“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 emphasised that officers remain active public servants throughout the notice period and are expected to continue carrying out their responsibilities unless they are attending approved seminars or have been granted leave under 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 directive added.

As a result, all MDAs have been instructed to discontinue the practice of asking retiring officers to leave their posts before their official retirement dates.

Under the new guidance, retiring workers are expected to remain at work, perform their assigned duties, participate in approved retirement preparation programmes, and complete all pension and personnel record requirements before exiting the service.

The circular also directed permanent secretaries, directors-general, executive secretaries, heads of statutory agencies and chief executives of government organisations to ensure that all staff members are informed and that the directive is fully implemented.

The clarification is expected to impact thousands of federal civil servants who retire annually.

For years, many government institutions treated the three-month notice period as an extended leave arrangement, often allowing officers to stay away from work after submitting retirement notices while awaiting retirement processing.

The Federal Government believes the new directive will create uniformity in the application of the Public Service Rules, prevent the premature loss of experienced personnel, and improve service delivery across government institutions.

Nigeria's retirement framework for federal civil servants is governed by the Public Service Rules and the Pension Reform Act, which stipulate retirement at 60 years of age or after 35 years of service, whichever comes first.

The government noted that pre-retirement seminars were introduced to help officers prepare for life after public service and facilitate pension processing. However, varying interpretations of the rules over the years led many MDAs to assume that a compulsory three-month pre-retirement leave existed.

The latest circular seeks to eliminate that misconception by reaffirming that the three-month period is intended for notice, administrative preparations and retirement documentation, not automatic absence from work.

FG approves major pay boost, 100% exit package for civil servants

Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that the Federal Government of Nigeria had approved a significant increase in peculiar allowances and welfare benefits for civil servants, in a move designed to improve their take-home pay and boost morale across the public service.

According to the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack, the revised package covers employees under both the Consolidated Public Service Salary Structure (CONPSS) and the Consolidated Research and Allied Institutions Salary Structure (CONRAISS), ensuring that workers across various cadres benefit from the adjustments.

The reform came amid rising cost of living and aims to improve morale, financial stability, and productivity in the public sector.