The Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) has ordered the immediate disengagement of directors who have spent eight years in the directorate cadre, enforcing the Federal Government’s tenure policy across the health sector.
The directive affects directors in the ministry, federal hospitals, agencies and parastatals under its supervision, according to a memo sighted in Abuja on Tuesday.
The move follows a government-wide instruction issued on Monday mandating all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to implement the eight-year tenure limit for directors and permanent secretaries, in line with a fresh deadline set by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.
In the FMOH circular signed by Tetshoma Dafeta, Director overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary, the ministry referenced the Eight-Year Tenure Policy as contained in the Revised Public Service Rules 2021 (PSR 020909).
“Further to the Eight (8)-Year Tenure Policy of the Federal Public Service, which mandates the compulsory retirement of Directors after eight years in that rank, as provided in the Revised Public Service Rules 2021 (PSR 020909)… I am directed to remind you to take necessary action to ensure that all affected officers who have spent eight years as Directors, effective 31st December, 2025, are disengaged from Service immediately,” the memo stated.
The circular directed all heads of agencies and parastatals to ensure that affected officers hand over official documents and property without delay.
“Accordingly, all Heads of Agencies and Parastatals are by this circular, to ensure that the affected staff hand over all official documents/possessions with immediate effect, their salaries are stopped by the IPPIS Unit and mandate the officers to refund to the treasury all emoluments paid after their effective date of disengagement,” it added.
The ministry cited a recent circular from the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Ref. No. HSCF/3065/Vol.I/225 dated February 10, 2026, reiterating compliance requirements.
It further directed institutions to forward the nominal roll of all directorate officers (CONMESS 07/CONHESS 15/CONRAISS 15) to designated official email addresses, warning that monitoring teams from both the Head of Service’s office and the ministry would conduct compliance checks.
“Failure to adhere to paragraph 2 above shall be met with stiff sanctions,” the memo warned.
The enforcement traces its roots to reforms initiated under former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Folasade Yemi-Esan, who in July 2023 announced the operationalisation of the revised Public Service Rules.
Speaking at a lecture at the State House in Abuja to mark the 2023 Civil Service Week, Yemi-Esan said the revised PSR took effect from July 27, 2023.
“Following the approval of the revised Public Service Rules (PSR) by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on September 27, 2021, and its subsequent unveiling during the public service lecture in commemoration of the 2023 Civil Service Week, the PSR has become operational with effect from July 27, 2023,” a circular from her office read at the time.
Under Section 020909 of the revised PSR, permanent secretaries are limited to a four-year tenure, renewable only upon satisfactory performance, while directors on Grade Level 17 or equivalent must compulsorily retire after eight years in that rank.
About the Author
