The federal government has directed all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to end the practice of placing civil servants on a mandatory three-month pre-retirement leave, saying the provision is not recognised under the Public Service Rules.
The directive was issued in a circular signed by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack, and sent to senior government officials across the public service.
According to the circular, several MDAs had wrongly interpreted the three-month retirement notice period as an automatic leave, resulting in officers leaving their duties before their official retirement dates, Punch reported.
Walson-Jack stated that Public Service Rule 120243 only requires officers approaching retirement to give three months’ notice, attend a one-month pre-retirement seminar and use the remaining period to complete pension and service record documentation.
“The so-called ‘mandatory three-month pre-retirement leave’ has no basis in the Public Service Rules,” she said. The circular further clarified that, “A retiring officer must give three months’ notice before their effective date of retirement. This is a notice requirement, not a leave entitlement.”
The Head of Service stressed that retiring officers remain in active service throughout the notice period and are expected to continue performing their duties except when attending approved retirement workshops or when granted leave under existing regulations, Vanguard reported.
Consequently, all MDAs have been directed to stop asking officers due for retirement to vacate their positions before their official exit dates and ensure strict compliance with the clarified rule. The move is expected to standardise retirement procedures and retain experienced personnel in service until their formal retirement.
Comment:
GOOD