No Provision for Three-Month Pre-Retirement Leave, FG Tells MDAs

The Federal Government has ordered Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to stop placing civil servants on mandatory three-month pre-retirement leave, saying the practice is not recognised under existing Public Service Rules.

The clarification was issued in a circular signed by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack, and circulated to top government officials, including ministers, permanent secretaries, service chiefs and heads of federal agencies.

According to the circular, titled “Correct Interpretation of Public Service Rule 120243 on Pre-Retirement Activities,” some MDAs have been incorrectly treating the three-month retirement notice period as a leave arrangement, leading to the premature disengagement of officers before their official retirement dates.

Walson-Jack clarified that the rule requires retiring officers to submit a three-month notice, attend a one-month pre-retirement seminar and utilise the remaining period for documentation related to service records and pension benefits.

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

She further explained that the notice period remains part of an officer’s active service and should not be interpreted as time away from work.

“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 emphasised that officers approaching retirement must continue to discharge their official responsibilities during the notice period, except when attending approved retirement workshops or when granted leave under applicable 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.”

To ensure uniform implementation across the federal civil service, the government directed all MDAs to retain retiring officers at their duty stations until their official exit dates while they complete pension and retirement documentation.

Officials say the directive will standardise retirement procedures and help government institutions retain experienced personnel until the completion of their lawful service period.

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