The Abia State Government has issued a firm and comprehensive directive instructing all permanent secretaries, heads of parastatals, and heads of non-ministerial departments to ensure strict and timely compliance with the mandatory three-month pre-retirement leave policy for retiring workers.

Contained in an official internal memo signed by the State Head of Service, Benson Ojeikere, the directive applies universally to all public servants reaching the statutory retirement age of 60 years, those who have completed 35 years in active service, and officials affected by the eight-year tenure policy established for directors.

Elaborating on the strategic objectives behind the policy enforcement, the Head of Service revealed that the initiative is primarily designed to protect the welfare of retiring personnel and eliminate the frustrating administrative backlogs that frequently leave former workers stranded for months without income.

Historically, many civil servants faced protracted delays ranging from two to four months after leaving office before their pension payments commenced. By mandating a structured three-month pre-retirement window, the state government aims to streamline documentation and fast-track processing so that pension disbursements seamlessly take effect immediately after the final salary payment stops.

Furthermore, all heads of ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) have been strictly instructed to proactively identify eligible officers, officially direct them to proceed on leave in accordance with their schedules, and avoid operational foot-dragging.

While special exemptions can be requested if an outgoing officer’s immediate replacement is unavailable for a critical handover, the overarching goal remains clear: enhancing administrative efficiency, upholding the dignity of public service retirees, and ensuring a smooth, stress-free transition from active duty to retirement security across Abia State.