The Federal Government has issued a directive to all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to immediately halt the practice of compelling civil servants nearing retirement to embark on a mandatory three-month pre-retirement leave. The government clarified that such a provision does not exist in the Public Service Rules (PSR).
Circular Details
The directive was contained in a circular released by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Walson-Jack. It was addressed to ministers, permanent secretaries, service chiefs, heads of government agencies, and other senior public officials. The circular, titled “Correct Interpretation of Public Service Rule 120243 on Pre-Retirement Activities,” highlighted that many MDAs had misapplied the rule by treating the statutory three-month retirement notice period as an automatic leave of absence. This misinterpretation has led to the premature removal of officers from active service.
Clarification on Rule 120243
Mrs. Walson-Jack explained that the Public Service Rules only require officers approaching retirement to provide a three-month notice of retirement, attend a one-month pre-retirement seminar or workshop, and use the remaining time to reconcile service records and process pension documentation. According to her, Rule 120243 outlines three distinct obligations for retiring officers: issuing a retirement notice, participating in a pre-retirement seminar within the first month, and completing retirement-related documentation during the final two months.
“A retiring officer must give three months’ notice before the effective date of retirement. This is a notice requirement, not a leave entitlement,” the circular stated. The Head of Service emphasized that officers remain in active service throughout the notice period and are expected to continue performing their official duties, except when attending approved pre-retirement programs or when granted leave in accordance with 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 circular further explained.
