FG abolishes mandatory 3-month preretirement leave for civil servants

Federal government immediately abolished the three-month preretirement leave for civil servants, according to a circular from Head of Civil Service Didi Walson-Jack. The directive aims to end a practice that had no basis in Public Service Rules but had been wrongly implemented by many MDAs.

Under the new policy, retiring officers must continue performing official duties throughout the three-month notice period before retirement. Only attendance at approved pre-retirement workshops or authorized leave exempts them from duty. The circular clarifies that PSR 120243 requires three months' notice, one-month pre-retirement seminar, and two months to complete pension documentation.

This change prevents premature withdrawal of experienced officers and maintains service continuity until official retirement dates. All MDAs must immediately comply with the directive, which applies nationwide to federal civil servants who retire at age 60 or after 35 years of service. How will your agency implement this policy change for officers approaching retirement?

SOURCE: https://www.channelstv.com/2026/06/02/fg-scraps-three-month-preretirement-leave-for-civil-servants/