Implements eight-year tenure limit for directors and permanent secretaries

The Federal Government has instructed all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to strictly apply the eight-year tenure limit for directors and permanent secretaries, in line with a renewed directive from the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.

The directive follows the revision of the Public Service Rules (PSR), which was announced in July 2023 by the former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Folasade Yemi-Esan. She stated at a lecture marking the 2023 Civil Service Week at the State House, Abuja, that the revised rules took effect from July 27, 2023.

A circular issued by the Head of Service and addressed to permanent secretaries, the Accountant-General of the Federation, the Auditor-General for the Federation and heads of extra-ministerial departments formally communicated the revised rules.

According to the circular, the revised PSR—approved by the Federal Executive Council on September 27, 2021, and unveiled during the 2023 Civil Service Week lecture became operational from July 27, 2023.

Section 020909 of the revised PSR provides that permanent secretaries are to serve a four-year tenure, renewable only once subject to satisfactory performance. It also stipulates that directors on Grade Level 17 or equivalent must compulsorily retire after spending eight years in that rank.

While some MDAs, including the Federal Ministry of Finance, implemented the policy promptly, others reportedly failed to comply.
In August 2025, the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria raised concerns over alleged attempts to extend the tenure of some directors and permanent secretaries, warning that such moves would contravene civil service regulations.

However, in a memo dated February 10, 2026, and signed by the current Head of the Civil Service, Didi Walson-Jack, MDAs were accused of uneven and inconsistent enforcement of the tenure policy.

The memo reaffirmed that the eight-year tenure rule for directors remains valid and must be fully implemented across the Federal Public Service. It noted that the reminder was necessary following observations that compliance had been irregular, in violation of the Public Service Rules.

The circular directed permanent secretaries, directors-general and chief executive officers of government agencies to submit annual reports on the status of implementation of the policy by February 28 each year, as well as monthly nominal rolls for monitoring and record-keeping purposes.

It warned that failure to comply with the directive would attract appropriate administrative sanctions and urged MDAs to ensure that the contents of the circular are brought to the attention of all relevant officials for strict adherence.