The Federal Government has officially abolished the long-standing practice known as the Three-Month Terminal Leave for retiring civil servants, clarifying that the provision does not exist in Nigeria’s Public Service Rules. T
he directive, issued by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack, instructs all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to immediately discontinue the practice of sending officers on compulsory leave three months before their retirement dates.
-
Federal Government says the Three-Month Terminal Leave has no legal backing in the Public Service Rules.
-
Retiring civil servants are expected to remain on duty until their official retirement dates, except when attending approved pre-retirement programmes or on authorised leave.
The clarification was contained in a circular addressed to ministers, permanent secretaries, service chiefs, heads of agencies and other senior government officials.
According to the Head of Service, several MDAs have for years misinterpreted the retirement notice requirement under Public Service Rule 120243 as a mandatory leave period, resulting in the premature withdrawal of experienced officers from active service.
Walson-Jack explained that the rule only requires civil servants approaching retirement to provide a three-month notice before leaving service. During this period, officers are expected to attend a pre-retirement seminar or workshop and complete all necessary pension and service documentation.
“The so-called ‘mandatory three-month pre-retirement leave’ has no basis in the Public Service Rules,” Walson-Jack stated.
She further noted that the notice period should not be mistaken for a leave entitlement. According to the circular, the first month is designated for participation in approved pre-retirement programmes, while the remaining period should be used to reconcile service records and finalise pension-related processes.
“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 Head of Service stressed that civil servants remain employees of the government throughout the notice period and are therefore expected to continue carrying out their official responsibilities.
“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,” the circular added.
As part of the new directive, MDAs have been instructed to stop requiring retiring officers to vacate their offices before their official retirement dates. Instead, affected employees are expected to remain actively engaged in their duties while completing retirement-related administrative processes.
The government believes the move will help address manpower shortages across public institutions by ensuring that experienced officers continue to contribute their knowledge and expertise until their final day in service.
The decision is expected to impact thousands of federal workers who approach retirement annually. For many years, numerous MDAs treated the notice period as an unofficial Three-Month Terminal Leave, allowing workers to stay away from duty while awaiting retirement processing.
Also Read: No Doctor Should Earn Below ₦1m Monthly, ARD President Tells Government
Officials say the new interpretation will create uniformity across government institutions and eliminate inconsistencies in the implementation of retirement procedures.
Nigeria’s federal civil service retirement system is governed by the Public Service Rules and the Pension Reform Act. Under the current framework, civil servants retire after reaching 60 years of age or completing 35 years of service, whichever comes first.
Retirement processing has historically been affected by delays in pension verification and discrepancies in personnel records. To tackle these challenges, government authorities introduced pre-retirement seminars to help officers prepare for life after service and complete pension documentation before retirement.
However, differing interpretations of the rules over the years contributed to the widespread belief that retiring officers were entitled to a compulsory Three-Month Terminal Leave.
With the latest circular, the Federal Government has moved to eliminate that misconception, affirming that the three-month period is intended primarily for notice and administrative preparation rather than automatic absence from work.
The directive is expected to strengthen workforce continuity across federal institutions while ensuring that retirement procedures are completed without disrupting public service delivery.
