The Federal Government has ordered all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to halt placing civil servants on the widely practised three-month pre-retirement leave, saying the arrangement is not recognised under the Public Service Rules.
The directive was issued through a circular signed by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Walson-Jack, who clarified that retiring officers are not entitled to any mandatory leave period before leaving service.
She noted that the Public Service Rules only require public servants approaching retirement to notify their employers three months ahead of their retirement date, contrary to the belief that the period should be spent away from work.
According to the circular, retiring officers are also expected to participate in a one-month pre-retirement workshop or seminar designed to prepare them for life after service.
The remaining period before retirement, Walson-Jack noted, should be used by officers to update and regularise their service records, pension documentation and other official requirements necessary for a smooth exit from the civil service.
She stressed that the three-month notice requirement should not be mistaken for a leave entitlement, insisting that no provision in the Public Service Rules authorises MDAs to compel workers to proceed on pre-retirement leave.
The Head of Service therefore directed all government institutions to immediately align their practices with the existing rules and discontinue any policy or administrative action that suggests otherwise.
The clarification is expected to affect retirement procedures across the federal civil service and ensure uniform compliance with established public service regulations.