According to a circular obtained by Channels Television, the Federal Government has abolished the three-month pre-retirement leave for civil servants.
Head of the Civil Service of the Federation Didi Walson-Jack issued the directive in a circular titled “Correct Interpretation of Public Service Rule 120243 on Pre-Retirement Activities” and addressed it to ministers, permanent secretaries, service chiefs, heads of agencies, and other senior public sector administrators.
The document also noted that, the Federal Government directed Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to immediately stop placing civil servants on the practice commonly known as the mandatory three-month pre-retirement leave.
In addition, Walson-Jack contended that the Public Service Rules do not contain such a clause and added that a number of MDAs had misinterpreted the retirement notice period as an automatic leave period, causing officers to quit active duty early
Walson-Jack said, “The so-called ‘mandatory three-month pre-retirement leave’ has no basis in the Public Service Rules.”
Furthermore, she clarified that Rule 120243 creates three separate requirements: completing retirement-related paperwork during the final two months, attending a pre-retirement course during the first month, and giving notice.She emphasised that, except where officers are attending authorised retirement seminars or granted leave under existing procedures, retiring civil servants must continue to perform their official duties throughout their notice period.
