The Federal Government has directed all directors in Ministries, Departments, and Agencies, who have been in the position for eight years to proceed on retirement.
FG had in July 2023, directed the former Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Folasade Yemi-Esan, to implement the revised Public Service Rules, which required directors who has spent eight years in the position to exit the MDAs.
The rules stipulates that a director (GL 17) or its equivalent shall compulsorily retire after eight years in that position.
However, while some MDAs, such as the Federal Ministry of Finance, implemented the rules immediately, others failed to do so.
Worried by the inconsistency in the implementation of the policy, the FG in a memo released on February 10, 2026, signed by the current Head of Civil Service, Didi Walson-Jack, reminded head of MDAs of its intentions to commence full implementation.
It said “Further to the issuance of the Circular, Ref. No. HCSF/CMO/002/S.1/VOL.IV/315 dated January 9, 2014, and Rule 020909 of the Public Service Rules, 2021, this circular reiterates the applicability of the eight-year tenure policy for directors across the Federal Public Service.
“This reminder has become necessary following observations that the implementation of the Eight-Year Tenure Policy for Directors has been haphazard and inconsistent across MDAs in breach of Rule 020909 of Public Service Rules, 2021 Edition.
“Consequently, Permanent Secretaries, Directors-General, and Chief Executive Officers of Federal Government-owned Agencies are hereby informed that the rule on the Eight-Year tenure for Directors is still in force and should be implemented accordingly.
“To ensure compliance with this circular, you are hereby requested to submit to the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, for monitoring and record purposes, the following documents: an annual report on the status of implementation of the Eight-Year tenure policy in your MDA, on or before February 28 of every year; and the monthly Nominal Roll of your MDA.
“Note that non-compliance with these directives will attract appropriate administrative consequences. Kindly bring the content of this Circular to the attention of all concerned, for strict compliance.”
