As moves continue to introduce various reforms in Nigeria’s public service, the Federal Government has announced the abolishing of the three-month pre-retirement leave for civil servants.
The FG in a circular titled “Correct Interpretation of Public Service Rule 120243 on Pre-Retirement Activities,” issued by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack, and addressed to top government officials and heads of agencies, directed Ministries, Departments, and Agencies to immediately discontinue the practice of placing civil servants on what is commonly referred to as a mandatory three-month preretirement leave.
The circular pointed out that such a provision does not exist in the Public Service Rules, adding that several MDAs had wrongly interpreted the retirement notice period as an automatic leave period, leading to the premature withdrawal of officers from active service.
According to the Head of Service of the federation, the Public service rule only requires officers due for retirement to give three months’ notice before their exit date, attend a one-month pre-retirement workshop or seminar, and use the remaining period to regularise service records and pension documentation.
“The so-called ‘mandatory three-month pre-retirement leave’ has no basis in the Public Service Rules.
“A retiring officer must give three months’ notice before their effective date of retirement. This is a notice requirement, not a leave entitlement,” the circular stated.
The circular made it clear that retiring officers remain public servants throughout the notice period and are expected to continue performing their official duties unless they are attending approved retirement workshops or have been granted leave under 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,” it clarified.
