Directors who have served for at least eight years in the directorate cadre will be immediately disengaged, per a directive from the Federal Ministry of Health.
The memo, which our correspondent in Abuja saw Tuesday morning, lists the impacted directors as being from the ministry, federal hospitals, agencies, and more.
After a new deadline established by the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, it was reported on Monday that the Federal Government ordered all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies to implement the eight-year term restriction for directors and permanent secretaries.
“With reference to the Federal Public Service’s Eight (8)-Year Tenure Policy, which requires directors to retire after eight years in that rank, as stipulated in the Revised Public Service Rules 2021 (PSR 020909) copy attached, I am directed to remind you to take necessary action to ensure that all affected officers who have spent eight years as Directors, effective 31st December, 2025, are disengaged from Service immediately,” reads the memo informing the FMOH of the order’s enforcement, which was signed by Tetshoma Dafeta, the Director in charge of the Federal Ministry of Health’s Office of the Permanent Secretary.
As a result, all heads of agencies and parastatals are required by this circular to make sure that the impacted employees turn over all official documents and belongings right away, that the IPPIS Unit halts their pay, and that the officers return to the Treasury all emoluments paid after the date of their disengagement.
In a circular published on February 10, 2026, by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (Ref. No. HSCF/3065/Vol.I/225), this was reaffirmed. Please refer to the copy that is attached.
Additionally, you must send the notional roll of every directorate officer (CONMESS 07/CONHESS 15/CONRAISS 15). DHRM@health.gov.ng and Agudosi.obinna@health.gov.ng should be sent to your institution. To guarantee compliance, representatives from the Ministry and the Office of the Head of the Federation’s Civil Service will be conducting a monitoring exercise.
“Strict penalties will be imposed for all violations of paragraph 2 above.”
In July 2023, Folasade Yemi-Esan, the former head of the Federation’s civil service, stated that the updated Public Service Rules will go into effect.
In an address during 2023 Civil Service Week at the State House in Abuja, Yemi-Esan said the updated PSR went into effect on July 27, 2023.
Permanent Secretaries, the Federation’s Accountant-General, the Federation’s Auditor-General, and the heads of extra-ministerial departments received a circular from the Head of Service outlining the updated regulations.
“With effect from July 27, 2023, the Public Service Rules (PSR) have become operational subsequent to the Federal Executive Council’s (FEC) September 27, 2021, approval of the revised PSR, and its subsequent unveiling during the public service lecture in honor of the 2023 Civil Service Week,” the circular stated.
As per Section 020909 of the updated PSR, permanent secretaries are only eligible for a four-year term extension if they perform satisfactorily.
A director (GL 17) or their equivalent must likewise voluntarily retire from their job after eight years, according to the guidelines.
Hon. Dr. Philip “Okanga” Agbese, a transformative leader in Enone. Discover his achievements, community projects, and vision for 2027
