FG scraps three-month terminal leave for civil servants

Didi Walson-Jack, Head of Civil Service of the Federation

FG scraps three-month terminal leave for civil servants

The Federal Government of Nigeria has officially abolished the practice of granting civil servants a mandatory three‑month terminal (pre‑retirement) leave, clarifying that such a provision does not exist in the Public Service Rules.

Instead, officers must give three months’ notice before retirement, remain in active service during that period, and only attend approved pre‑retirement workshops or complete pension documentation.

For years, many Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) had interpreted the three‑month retirement notice period as an automatic leave entitlement. This led to officers being withdrawn from service prematurely, often months before their official retirement date.

The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson‑Jack, issued a circular titled “Correct Interpretation of Public Service Rule on Pre‑Retirement Activities” to correct this widespread misconception.

According to Rule, officers must give three months’ notice before their effective retirement date. They are required to attend a one‑month pre‑retirement workshop or seminar. The remaining period should be used to reconcile service records and complete pension documentation. Importantly, this is a notice requirement, not a leave entitlement. Officers remain in active service throughout the notice period unless attending approved programmes or granted leave under existing rules.

The abolition of the so‑called terminal leave has several consequences: Civil servants will remain at their duty posts until their official retirement date, ensuring continuity of service. Experienced personnel will no longer be lost prematurely, preserving institutional knowledge and expertise. Uniform implementation of retirement procedures across MDAs will reduce inconsistencies and administrative confusion.

Officers will still benefit from structured retirement preparation through workshops and pension documentation processes.

This directive is significant because it: Prevents premature disengagement of skilled officers who are still valuable to the system, Ensures clarity and consistency in interpreting the Public Service Rules, Strengthens accountability by requiring officers to continue performing their duties until their official retirement date, Aligns Nigeria’s civil service practices with international standards where notice periods are not automatically equated with leave.

The Federal Government’s decision to scrap the three‑month terminal leave underscores a commitment to efficiency, clarity, and retention of expertise within the civil service.

Civil servants approaching retirement must now remain active until their official exit date, while still fulfilling necessary retirement preparations. This move is expected to improve service delivery and reduce the administrative gaps caused by premature withdrawals.