The Federal Ministry of Health has begun the immediate disengagement of senior directors who have spent eight years or more in the directorate cadre, in a sweeping enforcement of the Federal Government’s civil service tenure policy.
The exercise, which takes effect immediately, affects directors in the ministry’s headquarters, as well as those in federal hospitals and agencies under its supervision.
A circular signed by Tetshoma Dafeta, the Director overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary, directed all heads of agencies and parastatals to identify and retire officers who had spent eight years in the rank as of December 31, 2025.
“I am directed to remind you to take necessary action to ensure that all affected officers… are disengaged from Service immediately,” the memo read.
The directive goes beyond mere retirement. The ministry has ordered that the salaries of affected officials be stopped by the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) unit. Furthermore, any emoluments paid to them after their effective disengagement date must be refunded to the treasury.
Heads of agencies have also been instructed to compile and submit a nominal roll of all directorate officers, specifically those on CONMESS 07, CONHESS 15, and CONRAISS 15 salary structures, to the ministry’s human resources department.
The circular warned of “stiff sanctions” for any agency that fails to comply, adding that officials from the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and the ministry would conduct monitoring exercises to ensure full adherence.
This enforcement follows a directive from the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, which set a new deadline for implementing the eight-year tenure rule.
The policy, codified in Section 020909 of the Revised Public Service Rules 2021, mandates the compulsory retirement of directors after eight years in that position.
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