FG Scraps Three-Month Terminal Leave for Civil Servants, Orders Workers to Remain on Duty Until Retirement

The Federal Government has abolished the practice of mandatory three-month terminal leave for retiring civil servants, directing workers to remain on active duty until their official retirement date. Authorities say the policy will improve service delivery and ensure uniform implementation of Public Service Rules across federal agencies.

The Federal Government has officially abolished the long-standing practice of placing retiring civil servants on a mandatory three-month terminal leave before their retirement date, declaring that the arrangement has no basis in Nigeria’s Public Service Rules.

The directive was issued by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Walson-Jack, and communicated to Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), as well as senior government officials across the federal public service.

The clarification is expected to affect thousands of federal workers approaching retirement each year and marks a significant change in how retirement processes will be managed within the civil service. 

What Has Changed?
For many years, numerous MDAs interpreted the three-month retirement notice period as an automatic leave period, requiring officers due for retirement to stop reporting for work several months before their official exit date.
However, the Office of the Head of Service has now clarified that the Public Service Rules do not provide for any compulsory three-month terminal leave. Instead, retiring officers are expected to remain in active service until their official retirement date unless they are attending approved pre-retirement seminars or are on authorized leave.

According to the circular, the three-month period before retirement is primarily intended for administrative preparation, including retirement notifications, documentation, pension processing, and participation in pre-retirement workshops.   

Retiring Officers Must Continue Working
Under the new directive, civil servants approaching retirement will be required to continue carrying out their official duties during the notice period.
The government emphasized that submitting a retirement notice does not automatically exempt an officer from work responsibilities.
Officials stated that officers remain employees of the Federal Government throughout the notice period and are expected to contribute their expertise and experience until their official retirement date.  

The move is expected to prevent the early loss of experienced personnel and improve manpower management across government institutions.
Why the Government Made the Decision
According to the Head of Service, different interpretations of the Public Service Rules across MDAs created inconsistencies in the implementation of retirement procedures.
Some agencies routinely asked retiring workers to vacate their offices immediately after submitting retirement notices, while others allowed them to remain in service until their final day.
The government says the new directive aims to standardize retirement procedures and ensure that all ministries and agencies apply the rules uniformly. 

Officials also believe the policy will improve service delivery by ensuring that experienced officers continue supporting government operations while completing retirement documentation and pension-related processes. 

Mixed Reactions Expected
The decision is likely to generate mixed reactions among civil servants.
While some may welcome the move as a way to strengthen productivity and improve service delivery, others may argue that the former practice allowed retiring workers more time to prepare for life after public service.
Labour unions and civil service stakeholders are expected to closely monitor how the directive is implemented across federal institutions.
Broader Civil Service Reforms
The latest directive comes amid ongoing reforms within the federal civil service aimed at improving efficiency, accountability, and workforce management.
In recent months, the Federal Government has introduced several measures affecting civil servants, including changes to welfare packages, retirement benefits, professional certification requirements, and pension administration processes.

Analysts say the abolition of the unofficial terminal leave practice reflects the government’s broader effort to align civil service operations more closely with existing regulations and improve institutional performance.