The Nigerian Health Ministry has directed the disengagement and immediate retirement of directors who have served over eight years across departments, agencies, and federal health institutions.
According to an internal memo issued by the ministry’s management, all directors who have spent eight years or more in the directorate cadre are required to retire without delay, in line with existing public service regulations.
The communication emphasized that the policy is compulsory and binding for all agencies under the ministry’s supervision.
The directive, signed by Tetshoma Dafeta, Director overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary, was contained in a memo obtained in Abuja on Tuesday.
Heads of agencies and parastatals were instructed to ensure that officers who completed eight years in the rank as of December 31, 2025, immediately hand over official responsibilities and government property.
The memo also ordered the stoppage of salaries through the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS), adding that any payment received beyond the effective disengagement date must be refunded to government coffers.
Institutions are further required to submit the nominal roll of directorate officers within specified salary structures to designated official channels for monitoring purposes.
Compliance will be jointly supervised by officials from the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and the ministry.
“Failure to comply with this directive will attract strict sanctions against defaulting institutions or officers,” the memo warned.
The move follows an earlier instruction by the Federal Government requiring Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to strictly enforce the eight-year tenure limit for directors and permanent secretaries.
The policy is anchored on the Revised Public Service Rules 2021, which mandate the compulsory retirement of directors on Grade Level 17 or their equivalents after eight years in the position, while permanent secretaries are limited to a four-year tenure, subject to renewal based on performance.
