FG abolishes three-month terminal leave for civil servants

On June 2, 2026, in Abuja, the Federal Government directed Ministries, Departments and Agencies to end the practice of placing retiring civil servants on a mandatory three-month pre-retirement leave, saying the practice is not provided for in the Public Service Rules, according to a circular by Head of Service Didi Walson-Jack.

The directive followed reports that several MDAs had misinterpreted the retirement notice period as automatic leave, leading to early disengagement of officers and disruptions in staffing and pension documentation processes across the federal civil service.

Clarifying retirement notice obligations

“The so-called mandatory three-month pre-retirement leave has no basis in the Public Service Rules,” Walson-Jack said, noting that officers must give notice, attend a one-month seminar and complete documentation while still in service.

She stressed that retiring officers remain public servants during the notice period and are expected to continue duties except when attending approved seminars, adding that the period is for transition, not leave.

Long-standing confusion in the civil service

“A retiring officer must give three months’ notice before retirement. This is a notice requirement, not a leave entitlement,” the circular stated.

The clarification follows years of inconsistent interpretation across MDAs, where officers were often asked to vacate posts early, affecting service continuity and pension processing and prompting repeated debates within labour circles.

Workers and stakeholders say the reform could strengthen accountability and ensure retirees contribute fully until their exit date.

The development also recalls earlier public debates over retirement administration in Nigeria’s civil service, where unions repeatedly raised concerns about uneven implementation of rules across agencies, especially around pension delays and exit procedures.