The Federal Government has scrapped the long-standing practice of compelling civil servants to proceed on a three-month pre-retirement leave, describing it as a misinterpretation of the Public Service Rules.
The directive was issued in a circular by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack, and sent to ministers, permanent secretaries, service chiefs and heads of government agencies.
In the circular titled “Correct Interpretation of Public Service Rule 120243 on Pre-Retirement Activities,” the Head of Service said many Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) had wrongly treated the retirement notice period as automatic leave, effectively pushing officers out of duty before their official exit date.
She clarified that no such provision exists in the Public Service Rules.
According to her, what is required is a three-month notice before retirement, attendance at a pre-retirement workshop within that period, and time to complete documentation and pension-related processes, not an enforced exit from work.
“The so-called ‘mandatory three-month pre-retirement leave’ has no basis in the Public Service Rules,” she said.
Walson-Jack stressed that the notice period is not a leave period, but an administrative requirement that keeps officers formally in service until their retirement date.
“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.
She further explained that affected officers are expected to remain on duty throughout the period, except when attending approved seminars or when officially excused under existing leave rules.
“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,” it added.
With the new clarification, MDAs have been directed to stop asking officers to vacate their posts before their official retirement dates.
Instead, retiring civil servants are to continue their duties while wrapping up pension documentation and attending approved pre-retirement programs.
The circular also directed permanent secretaries, directors-general and agency heads to ensure full compliance across the federal service.
The clarification is expected to affect thousands of civil servants annually, many of whom had previously been allowed to stop work months before their retirement officially took effect.
For years, several MDAs treated the retirement notice period as an informal exit window, allowing officers to step aside long before their final day in service.
The government says the new directive is aimed at restoring clarity to the rules, improving accountability, and ensuring smoother operations in the public service while pension processes are completed without disruption.
Under Nigeria’s civil service structure, retirement occurs at age 60 or after 35 years of service, whichever comes first.
