By Mokobia Rita.
ABUJA/Nigeria: The Federal Government has directed all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to immediately discontinue the practice of placing civil servants on three-month pre-retirement leave, declaring that the arrangement has no basis in the Public Service Rules.
The directive was issued by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Walson-Jack, in a circular aimed at correcting what she described as the long-standing misinterpretation of provisions governing retirement procedures in the federal public service.
The circular, titled “Correct Interpretation of Public Service Rule 120243 on Pre-Retirement Activities,” was addressed to ministers, permanent secretaries, service chiefs, directors-general, executive secretaries, heads of government agencies and other senior public officials across the federation.
Mrs. Walson-Jack explained that contrary to the practice that has evolved over the years, Public Service Rule 120243 does not authorize retiring officers to stop work or vacate their offices three months before their official retirement dates.
She clarified that the rule only requires officers due for retirement to formally notify the government three months ahead of their retirement. During that period, officers are expected to participate in a one-month pre-retirement workshop or seminar and utilize the remaining time to regularize service records, process pension documentation and complete other administrative requirements necessary for a smooth transition into retirement.
According to the Head of Service, retiring officers are expected to continue discharging their official responsibilities until their last day in service while simultaneously completing all retirement-related formalities.
She stressed that nowhere in the Public Service Rules is it stated that officers approaching retirement should abandon their duties, stop reporting to work or hand over their offices before their official retirement dates.
To ensure compliance, Mrs. Walson-Jack directed all MDAs to immediately implement the clarification and ensure that officers due for retirement remain at their duty posts until they officially exit the service.
The circular further instructed permanent secretaries, chief executives, chairpersons of statutory bodies and heads of government establishments to communicate the directive to all employees under their supervision and enforce strict compliance throughout the federal public service.
The clarification is expected to affect thousands of federal workers who retire annually and bring an end to a practice that had become widespread despite lacking legal backing under existing regulations.
Industry observers believe the move will enhance workforce planning, improve productivity and ensure that experienced officers remain available to provide institutional support and knowledge transfer until their final day in service.
The directive also underscores the Federal Government’s renewed commitment to discipline, accountability and strict adherence to established public service regulations, reinforcing efforts to build a more efficient and result-oriented civil service.
With the new directive now in force, federal workers approaching retirement will be required to remain actively engaged in their official duties until their retirement dates, effectively ending the era of early exit from service under the guise of pre-retirement leave.
