The Federal Government has discontinued the practice of granting civil servants a compulsory three-month pre-retirement leave, instructing Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to ensure that workers remain fully active until their official retirement date.
The directive was issued by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Walson-Jack, who clarified that the Public Service Rules do not support any automatic withdrawal of officers from duty three months before retirement. She explained that the long-held practice in some government offices was based on a misunderstanding of the rules.
According to her clarification of Public Service Rule 120243, civil servants approaching retirement are required to give a three-month notice, participate in a pre-retirement training or workshop during the first month, and use the remaining period to finalize pension and administrative documentation. However, they are still expected to continue performing their official duties unless officially approved for leave under existing regulations.
The government noted that the incorrect interpretation of the rule had led to many experienced officers leaving service earlier than necessary, creating gaps in manpower and reducing efficiency in some departments. With the new directive, all affected workers will now remain on active duty until their retirement date.
The policy also aims to standardize retirement procedures across federal agencies, as implementation had previously varied from one institution to another. Some offices allowed early exit while others enforced stricter attendance, creating inconsistency in the system.
Senior officials, including permanent secretaries and agency heads, have been instructed to ensure full compliance and to communicate the new policy clearly to staff members. They are also expected to support retiring workers in completing pension processes while they continue working.
The Federal Government believes the change will improve productivity by retaining skilled personnel for a longer period and ensuring smoother transitions when employees retire. It also maintains that structured pre-retirement training will still be available to help workers prepare for life after service.
Under existing civil service regulations, retirement remains at either 60 years of age or 35 years of service, whichever comes first, and this has not changed.
Overall, the new directive marks a shift in long-standing administrative practice, ensuring that civil servants now serve fully up to their official retirement date while still receiving structured preparation for post-service life.
