File: Abia State Governor, Alex Otti.
Abia directs retiring civil servants to proceed Abia State Government has directed all permanent secretaries, heads of non-ministerial departments and heads of parastatals to compile lists of civil servants due for retirement to implement its three-month pre-retirement leave policy.
The directive, dated October 12, 2026, and obtained on Wednesday, was contained in an internal memo with reference number HSA/S.0117/VOL.II/125, signed by the state Head of Service, Benson Ojeikere.
According to the memo, “Further to existing directives on public service retirements, all Permanent Secretaries, Heads of Parastatals and Heads of Non-Ministerial Departments are hereby directed to ensure full and timely compliance with the mandatory three months’ pre-retirement leave for all retiring officers.
“This requirement applies to officers reaching the statutory retirement age of 60 years or 35 years’ length of service and officers affected by the tenure policy for Directors (8-year tenure)”.
Reference was made to PSR Nos. 02808 and 02809, Circular Ref. No. HSA/EST/RR/299/6 of June 6, 2017, and Circular Ref. No. HSA/EST/RR/29/8 of July 18, 2017.
The memo further stated, “All Heads of MDAs are strictly required to identify all officers due for retirement, including those affected by the tenure policies
“Direct them to proceed on pre-retirement leave as scheduled and expedite all retirement and pension documentation within approved timelines”.
The memo advised that any operational challenges regarding implementation “should be escalated immediately to the Office of the Head of Service”.
When contacted, the Head of Service, Benson Ojeikere, confirmed the memo, saying some affected staff “are refusing to go”.
He explained, “And now we are striving to see that pensions are paid; at least when you stop getting salary this month, we want the pension to start next month.
“We are struggling to achieve that. But these people, they will not start the process. You know, those three months are to enable them to start the process of working their pensions.
“Government will still be paying them”, while their pensions are being worked out”.
He further stated, “Somebody has retired; it is taking them two months, three months, four months before his pension starts being paid. It is not good for the image of the service and for the image of the state.
“So that policy wants people to enjoy it”.
He mentioned special cases where the office needed the staff badly and there was nobody to whom he could hand over, stating, the office can now write to them so they can give approval.