The Federal Government has officially scrapped the longstanding practice that allowed civil servants to proceed on a three-month preretirement leave before their official exit from service.
The directive, issued by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF), is aimed at ensuring uniform application of the Public Service Rules across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) while addressing manpower shortages caused by the early disengagement of experienced personnel.
According to the new policy, public servants due for retirement will now remain in active service until their official retirement dates, ending a practice that often saw workers leave their posts months ahead of schedule.
The Head of Service explained that the move is designed to standardise procedures throughout the federal civil service and eliminate discrepancies in the interpretation of retirement guidelines by various government institutions.
Officials noted that the abolition of the preretirement leave will help government retain skilled and experienced officers for the full duration of their service, thereby strengthening institutional memory and improving service delivery.
The directive is also expected to curb workforce gaps that frequently arise when senior officers exit their positions prematurely, leaving critical responsibilities unattended before replacements are fully prepared.
With the new policy now in effect, MDAs have been directed to comply strictly with the Public Service Rules and ensure that retiring officers remain on duty until their official dates of retirement.
The decision marks a significant shift in federal workforce management and underscores the government’s drive to improve efficiency, accountability and continuity within the public service.
Source:ChannelTv
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