The Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) has ordered the immediate disengagement of directors who have completed eight years in office, affecting officials across the ministry, federal hospitals, and affiliated agencies.
A memo signed by Tetshoma Dafeta, Director in the Office of the Permanent Secretary, instructed all heads of agencies and parastatals to ensure that affected officers hand over official documents, stop their salaries through the IPPIS system, and refund any emoluments paid after their tenure expired on December 31, 2025.
The directive aligns with the revised Public Service Rules (PSR) 2021, which mandates compulsory retirement for directors (GL 17) after eight years in the cadre. The memo emphasized that failure to comply will attract stiff sanctions and that officials from the Office of the Head of Civil Service and FMOH will monitor enforcement.
This follows a broader government policy issued on Monday, directing all ministries, departments, and agencies to enforce the eight-year tenure limit for directors and permanent secretaries, as outlined in circular Ref. No. HSCF/3065/Vol.I/225 dated February 10, 2026.
The PSR, approved by the Federal Executive Council in 2021 and operational since July 27, 2023, sets a four-year term for permanent secretaries (renewable based on performance) and an eight-year term for directors.
The rules were first unveiled publicly during the 2023 Civil Service Week lecture by former Head of Civil Service, Folasade Yemi-Esan.
Officials are now required to submit the nominal roll of all directorate officers to the ministry for verification and compliance, signaling the government’s commitment to enforcing tenure limits across the federal public service.
