The Federal Government has directed all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to immediately stop the practice of placing civil servants on a mandatory 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 dated May 13, 2026, signed by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, and addressed to ministers, permanent secretaries, heads of government agencies, service chiefs, and other senior public officials.
According to the circular, some MDAs have been incorrectly interpreting Public Service Rule 120243 by treating the mandatory three-month retirement notice period as a leave period, requiring officers to vacate their positions before their official retirement date.
The Office of the Head of Civil Service noted that the misinterpretation has persisted despite the clear provisions of the Public Service Rules.
“It has come to the attention of this Office that some Ministries, Extra-Ministerial Departments and Agencies (MDAs) have continued to treat the three-month notice period preceding retirement as a mandatory leave period, contrary to the provisions of the extant Public Service Rules,” the circular stated.
The government explained that under Rule 120243, officers intending to retire are only required to provide a three-month notice before their retirement date. During the first month of the notice period, retiring officers are expected to attend a mandatory pre-retirement workshop or seminar approved by their MDA.
The remaining two months are intended for officers to regularise their service records, pension documentation, and other retirement-related matters to ensure the smooth processing of their benefits.
The circular clarified that the three-month notice requirement does not constitute a leave entitlement and does not prevent officers from carrying out their official duties during the period.
Consequently, all MDAs have been instructed to discontinue the practice of compelling retiring officers to leave their posts based on what the government described as a non-existent provision. Retiring officers are expected to continue performing their official responsibilities throughout the notice period unless otherwise approved.
The government also directed agencies to facilitate participation in approved pre-retirement programmes and ensure the timely processing of retirement records, pension documents, and other entitlements.
Permanent secretaries, directors-general, executive secretaries, chairpersons of statutory agencies, and chief executive officers have been mandated to ensure strict compliance with the directive and circulate it to all staff across the federal public service.
