● HoS Walson-Jack directs MDAs to stop sending officers home early as Rule 120243 only requires 3-month notice + 1-month workshop + 2 months for pension docs
The Federal Government has scrapped the practice of placing civil servants on a mandatory three-month pre-retirement leave, declaring that no such provision exists in the Public Service Rules.
Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack, issued the directive in a circular entitled “Correct Interpretation of Public Service Rule 120243 on Pre-Retirement Activities” to ministers, permanent secretaries, service chiefs, heads of agencies and other senior officials.
Walson-Jack said many MDAs wrongly interpreted the retirement notice period as automatic leave, leading to premature withdrawal of officers from service.
“The so-called ‘mandatory three-month pre-retirement leave’ has no basis in the Public Service Rules,” she stated. “A retiring officer must give three months’ notice before their effective date of retirement. This is a notice requirement, not a leave entitlement.”
—What PSR 120243 actually requires—
According to the HoS, Rule 120243 establishes three distinct steps, not three months off work:
1. 3-month notice: Officer must give notice of retirement before exit date.
2. 1-month workshop: Attend an approved pre-retirement seminar/workshop during the first month.
3. 2 months documentation: Use remaining period to regularise service records and pension documentation.
“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 added.
—Immediate directive to MDAs—
All MDAs must stop compelling retiring officers to vacate posts before their official retirement dates. Ministries and agencies must ensure officers continue discharging responsibilities, participate in approved pre-retirement programmes, and complete pension/service record reconciliations before leaving.
Permanent secretaries, DGs, executive secretaries and CEOs were instructed to bring the directive to all staff members and ensure strict compliance.
For decades, many MDAs treated the 3-month notice as extended leave, directing officers to stop reporting once notice was submitted. The HoS says the practice caused loss of manpower and early disengagement of experienced officers.
Government expects the clarification to improve service delivery by keeping retiring officers on duty till exit date while they complete pension processing. Delays in pension payment and personnel record errors have been major pain points for retirees.
Nigeria’s federal civil service rules mandate retirement at 60 years of age or 35 years in service, whichever comes first. The retirement framework is governed by the Public Service Rules and Pension Reform Act.
