The Federal Ministry of Health has ordered that directors in the directorate cadre must disengage immediately. This applies to those who have spent eight years in their positions. This action signals a firm enforcement of the Federal Government’s tenure policy across the health sector.
The directive was conveyed in an internal circular obtained in Abuja on Tuesday. It affects directors serving at the ministry’s headquarters. It also affects those in federal hospitals, agencies, and parastatals under its supervision.
According to the memo, all directors who completed eight years in the rank as of December 31, 2025, must retire from service immediately. The instruction was issued in line with the Revised Public Service Rules (PSR 020909), which mandate compulsory retirement after eight years in the directorate cadre.
The circular was signed by Tetshoma Dafeta, Director overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary, who stated that the ministry was acting in compliance with an existing federal directive requiring all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to strictly implement the tenure limits.
Heads of agencies and parastatals were directed to ensure that affected officers immediately hand over official documents and government property. The memo further instructed the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) Unit to halt the salaries of the affected officers and require the refund of any payments received beyond their effective date of disengagement.
The ministry noted that the action aligns with a recent circular issued by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, referenced HSCF/3065/Vol.I/225 and dated February 10, 2026, which reiterated the enforcement of the eight-year tenure policy across the federal civil service.
In addition, institutions were directed to submit updated nominal rolls of all directorate-level officers — including those on CONMESS 07, CONHESS 15, and CONRAISS 15 — to designated ministry email addresses for monitoring purposes. Officials from both the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and the ministry are expected to conduct compliance checks.
The memo warned that failure to comply with the directive would attract stiff sanctions.
The tenure policy is rooted in the revised Public Service Rules approved by the Federal Executive Council in September 2021 and formally operationalised in July 2023. At the public unveiling during the 2023 Civil Service Week in Abuja, former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Folasade Yemi-Esan, explained that the reforms were designed to promote accountability, efficiency, and leadership renewal within the federal civil service.
Under Section 020909 of the revised rules, permanent secretaries are limited to a four-year tenure, renewable subject to satisfactory performance, while directors on Grade Level 17 or its equivalent must compulsorily retire after eight years in that position.
Observers say the latest action by the Health Ministry underscores the Federal Government’s renewed determination to ensure strict adherence to public service reforms and strengthen institutional governance across MDAs.
