FG Scraps 3-Month Pre-Retirement Leave for Civil Servants

The Federal Government has directed ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) to stop placing civil servants on the mandatory three-month pre-retirement leave.

The directive was issued in a circular titled “Correct Interpretation of Public Service Rule 120243 on Pre-Retirement Activities”, signed by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack.

According to the circular, the practice of enforcing a compulsory three-month pre-retirement leave on workers is no longer in line with the correct interpretation of existing public service rules.

The government clarified that pre-retirement activities are to be conducted in a more flexible and structured manner, allowing eligible officers to properly prepare for retirement without being compulsorily removed from duty months before their official exit date.

The directive further instructed MDAs to ensure strict compliance, warning that any deviation from the updated interpretation would not be tolerated.

The move is part of ongoing reforms in the federal civil service aimed at improving efficiency, productivity, and alignment with global best practices in public sector administration.

Civil servants approaching retirement have been advised to liaise with relevant departments for proper guidance on transition procedures.