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

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

In the circular titled “Correct Interpretation of Public Service Rule 120243 on Pre-Retirement Activities,” Walson-Jack noted that several MDAs had misinterpreted the rule by treating the statutory three-month retirement notice period as an automatic leave of absence, leading to the premature withdrawal of officers from active service.

She clarified that the Public Service Rules only require officers nearing retirement to give a three-month notice of retirement, participate in a one-month pre-retirement seminar or workshop, and use the remaining period to reconcile service records and process pension documentation.

According to her, Rule 120243 outlines three distinct obligations for retiring officers: issuance of retirement notice, attendance at a pre-retirement seminar within the first month, and completion of retirement-related documentation during the remaining two months.

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

The Head of Service emphasised that officers remain in active service throughout the notice period and are expected to continue performing their official responsibilities, except when attending approved pre-retirement programmes or when granted leave in accordance with existing regulations.

“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 further explained.