Nigerian govt scraps mandatory three-month pre-retirement leave for civil servants

The Federal Government has directed all Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs, to immediately discontinue the practice of placing civil servants on a mandatory three-month pre-retirement leave, clarifying that such a provision does not exist in the Public Service Rules, PSR.

The directive was contained in a circular dated May 13, 2026, and signed by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack.

The circular was addressed to top government officials, including ministers, permanent secretaries, heads of agencies, service chiefs, and other key public sector institutions.

According to the circular, some MDAs have been wrongly interpreting Public Service Rule 120243 by treating the three-month notice period preceding retirement as compulsory leave, thereby requiring officers to vacate their duties before their official retirement date.

The Office of the Head of Civil Service stated “It has come to the attention of this Office that some Ministries, Extra-Ministerial Departments and Agencies (MDAs) have continued to treat the three-month notice period preceding retirement as a mandatory leave period, contrary to the provisions of the extant Public Service Rules (PSR).”

Under PSR 120243, officers are required to give three months’ notice before retirement. 

 “Officers are required to give three months’ notice to retire from Service before the effective date of retirement. 

“At the commencement of three months, Officers should proceed immediately on the mandatory one-month pre-retirement workshop/seminar. For the remaining two months, retiring Officers are expected to take necessary measures to put their records straight to facilitate the speedy processing of their retirement benefits,” it said.

The government clarified that these provisions establish three distinct requirements. 

 “A retiring officer must give three months’ notice before their effective date of retirement. This is a notice requirement, not a leave entitlement.

“During the first month of the notice period, officers must attend an approved MDA-mandated pre-retirement programme.

“During the remaining two months, officers are expected to regularise their service records, pension documentation, and other retirement-related matters to facilitate seamless processing of their benefits,” it added.

Consequently, all MDAs are directed to: “discontinue the practice of treating the three-month notice period as compulsory leave and compelling officers to vacate duty based on a non-existent provision, ensure that a retiring officer continues to discharge official responsibilities throughout the notice period, except as otherwise approved, facilitate the timely participation of retiring officers in approved pre-retirement seminars and workshops under MDA-approved programmes and ensure prompt processing and reconciliation of all retirement records, pension documentation, and other entitlements within the stipulated period.”

The circular instructed permanent secretaries, directors-general, executive secretaries, chairpersons of statutory agencies, and all chief executive officers to ensure strict compliance and to circulate the directive to all staff across the service.