By Al-Kadriyar Abdullahi
The Federal Government has directed all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to discontinue the practice of placing civil servants on a mandatory three-month pre-retirement, commonly referred to as “terminal leave,” stating that the arrangement is not provided for in Nigeria’s Public Service Rules.
The directive is contained in a circular issued by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack, and circulated to ministers, permanent secretaries, service chiefs, heads of agencies, and other senior public officials.
In the circular titled “Correct Interpretation of Public Service Rule 120243 on Pre-Retirement Activities,” the Federal Government clarified that what is commonly known as terminal leave is a misinterpretation of the retirement notice period prescribed under the Public Service Rules.
According to the Head of Service, retiring officers are only required to provide three months’ notice before their retirement date, participate in a one-month pre-retirement workshop or seminar, and use the remaining period to complete pension-related documentation and update their service records.
She emphasized that the so-called three-month terminal leave has no basis in the Public Service Rules, stressing that officers due for retirement remain in active service throughout the notice period, except when attending approved pre-retirement programmes or when granted leave in line with existing regulations.
The circular further directed all MDAs to stop compelling officers to vacate their positions before their official retirement dates, noting that the practice has resulted in the premature loss of experienced personnel within the civil service.
The Federal Government said the clarification is aimed at standardising retirement procedures across MDAs, improving service delivery, and ensuring that retiring officers complete all necessary documentation while continuing to contribute their expertise to public service until their official retirement dates.
Nigeria’s civil service retirement system is governed by the Public Service Rules and the Pension Reform Act.
Public officers are required to retire upon attaining 35 years of pensionable service or reaching 60 years of age, whichever comes first.
