The Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH), has directed the immediate disengagement of directors who have spent at least, eight years in the directorate cadre, reinforcing the Federal Government’s enforcement of tenure limits across the civil service.
The directive, conveyed in a memo sighted in Abuja on Tuesday morning, affects directors within the ministry, federal hospitals, agencies, and parastatals under its supervision. It marks one of the most decisive steps yet in implementing the eight-year tenure policy contained in the Revised Public Service Rules (PSR) 2021.
Memo Details and Scope of the Order
The memo, signed by Tetshoma Dafeta, Director overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary at the FMOH, emphasized that all affected officers who had completed eight years in the director rank as of December 31, 2025, must be disengaged from service immediately.
It reads in part:
“Further to the Eight (8)-Year Tenure Policy of the Federal Public Service, which mandates the compulsory retirement of Directors after eight years in that rank, as provided in the Revised Public Service Rules 2021 (PSR 020909), 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.”
The circular further instructs all Heads of Agencies and Parastatals to:
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Ensure affected officers hand over all official documents and government property immediately.
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Direct the IPPIS Unit to stop their salaries without delay.
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Mandate the refund of any emoluments paid beyond their effective date of disengagement.
Additionally, institutions are required to forward the nominal roll of all directorate officers (CONMESS 07/CONHESS 15/CONRAISS 15), to designated ministry email addresses for documentation and verification.
The memo references a prior circular from the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (Ref. No. HSCF/3065/Vol.I/225, dated February 10, 2026), reiterating the Federal Government’s directive to all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), to comply strictly with the eight-year tenure limit.
It warns that failure to comply with the instructions “shall be met with stiff sanctions,” although specific penalties were not detailed.
Background: Revised Public Service Rules 2021
The enforcement stems from reforms approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC), on September 27, 2021, which revised the Public Service Rules. The updated rules were formally operationalized on July 27, 2023.
Announcing the commencement of the revised PSR during the 2023 Civil Service Week at the State House, Abuja, former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Folasade Yemi-Esan, explained that the new framework was designed to promote efficiency, accountability, and structured career progression within the federal civil service.
In a circular addressed to Permanent Secretaries, the Accountant-General of the Federation, the Auditor-General for the Federation, and heads of extra-ministerial departments, Yemi-Esan confirmed that:
“Following the approval of the revised Public Service Rules (PSR), by the Federal Executive Council (FEC), on September 27, 2021, and its subsequent unveiling during the public service lecture in commemoration of the 2023 Civil Service Week, the PSR has become operational with effect from July 27, 2023.”
Key Provisions of Section 020909
Section 020909 of the Revised PSR clearly stipulates tenure limits for top civil servants:
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A director (Grade Level 17), or equivalent shall compulsorily retire after eight years in that position.
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Permanent secretaries are limited to a four-year tenure, renewable only upon satisfactory performance.
These provisions were introduced to ensure periodic leadership renewal, prevent stagnation in senior administrative roles, and open advancement pathways for eligible officers.
Implications for the Health Sector
The immediate disengagement order is expected to impact numerous senior officials across the health ministry and its affiliated institutions, including federal hospitals and specialized agencies. The enforcement could create significant leadership transitions within the health sector, particularly in strategic and administrative departments.
However, government officials maintain that strict adherence to the tenure policy is essential to institutional discipline and compliance with established civil service regulations.
Monitoring teams from both the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and the Ministry are scheduled to conduct compliance exercises to ensure the directive is fully implemented.
A Broader Civil Service Reform Push
The FMOH’s action aligns with a broader Federal Government push to standardize enforcement of tenure limits across all MDAs. By insisting on immediate compliance, the ministry signals a renewed commitment to civil service reform and accountability.
As the disengagement process unfolds, stakeholders within the health sector will be watching closely to assess its impact on policy continuity, service delivery, and administrative efficiency.
The development underscores the Federal Government’s determination to entrench the Revised Public Service Rules as a binding governance framework rather than a mere procedural guideline.
