Government scraps 3-month pre-retirement leave for civil servants

Tuesday, June 2, 2026 - The Federal Government has directed Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to 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.

The directive was contained in a circular issued by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack, and addressed to ministers, permanent secretaries, service chiefs, heads of agencies and other top government officials.

In the circular titled “Correct Interpretation of Public Service Rule 120243 on Pre-Retirement Activities,” the Head of Service said many MDAs had wrongly interpreted the retirement notice period as automatic leave, leading to the premature disengagement of officers from duty.

She clarified that the Public Service Rule only requires officers nearing retirement to give three months’ notice before their exit date, attend a one-month pre-retirement workshop or seminar, and use the remaining period to complete documentation and pension-related processes.

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

She explained that Rule 120243 provides for three key requirements: a notice period, attendance at a pre-retirement seminar during the first month, and completion of documentation and records reconciliation within the remaining period.

“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.

The Head of Service emphasized that retiring officers remain in active service during the notice period and are expected to continue performing their duties except when attending approved workshops or otherwise officially excused under existing leave provisions.

“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 under extant leave rules,” it added.

Following the directive, MDAs have been instructed to stop compelling officers to vacate their posts before their official retirement dates.

Instead, retiring civil servants are expected to continue their responsibilities while completing pension documentation and participating in approved pre-retirement programmes.

The circular also directed permanent secretaries, directors-general, chief executives and heads of agencies to ensure strict compliance with the new interpretation.

The clarification is expected to affect thousands of federal civil servants approaching retirement annually.

For years, many MDAs treated the retirement notice period as de facto leave, allowing officers to stop reporting for duty once retirement notices were submitted.

The new directive aims to standardize implementation of the Public Service Rules and ensure continuity in government operations while improving efficiency in pension processing.

Under Nigeria’s civil service structure, retirement is based on either attaining 60 years of age or completing 35 years of service, whichever comes first.