The Federal Government has officially abolished the long-standing mandatory three-month pre-retirement terminal leave for civil servants. The policy update, aimed at curbing sudden institutional brain drain and streamlining public service operations, has immediately sparked intense debate across various public service sectors.
Under the previous civil service rules, public servants approaching their statutory retirement age or maximum years of service were required to proceed on a mandatory three-month terminal leave. During this period, they remained on the payroll while transitioning out of office.
Effective immediately, the government has scrapped this practice. Moving forward, civil servants are expected to remain at their duty posts and continue their routine responsibilities right up until their official last day of service.
The directive has sharply divided opinions within government agencies and labor unions.
Proponents of the reform argue that the three-month leave often created prolonged operational vacuums in critical sectors, slowing down administrative processes. By keeping retiring officers at their desks, the government aims to ensure seamless handovers and maximize productivity.
Critics and labor representatives have expressed deep concerns, arguing that the terminal leave was a vital psychological and logistical buffer. It allowed aging workers time to process their retirement paperwork, clear out their offices, and transition into post-service life without the daily grind of a 9-to-5.
The Head of the Civil Service has directed all Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Extra-Ministerial Departments to ensure strict compliance with the new directive. While the government insists this will drive institutional efficiency, labor unions are already calling for a review of the decision, hinting at potential negotiations to introduce alternative transition windows for retiring staff.
