The Federal Ministry of Health has directed the immediate retirement of directors who have served eight years or more in the directorate cadre across its departments, agencies, and federal health institutions.
The directive, contained in an internal memo, was signed by Tetshoma Tetshoma Dafeta, instructing affected officials to disengage from service without delay under public service regulations.
This followed a Federal Government order requiring all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies to enforce the eight-year tenure limit for directors and permanent secretaries, as stipulated by the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation.
The ministry reminded agencies of the compulsory retirement policy in the Revised Public Service Rules 2021, which mandates directors to exit after completing eight years in rank.
Heads of agencies and parastatals were directed to ensure that officers completing eight years by December 31, 2025, immediately hand over official duties and government property.
The memo also ordered the stoppage of salaries through the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System, with any payments beyond the disengagement date refunded to government coffers.
Agencies and institutions must submit the nominal roll of directorate officers within specified salary structures to designated email addresses, with compliance monitored jointly by the ministry and the Head of Civil Service office.
Failure to comply, the memo warned, would attract strict sanctions against defaulting institutions or officers.
The policy stems from the Revised Public Service Rules, approved by the Federal Executive Council and implemented from July 27, 2023, following announcement by then Head of Civil Service Folasade Yemi-Esan.
Section 020909 limits permanent secretaries to a four-year tenure subject to renewal, while Grade Level 17 directors or equivalents must retire compulsorily after eight years in office.
