Federal Government Moves to Enforce Eight-Year Limit for Top Civil Servants

The Federal Government has reinforced a rule that limits how long senior civil servants can stay in certain top posts, insisting that all federal ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) must follow it fully.

In a memo dated February 10, 2026, the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation reminded Permanent Secretaries, Directors‑General, and chief executives of government agencies that directors should retire after eight years and permanent secretaries serve a maximum of eight years (in two four‑year terms). The rule must now be applied consistently across all offices.

The directive comes amid concerns that some federal bodies had not been complying with the policy, despite its inclusion in the 2021 Public Service Rules, which became effective in mid‑2023.

Government agencies are now required to report annually on how they are implementing the tenure limits. Failure to comply could lead to administrative sanctions, officials said. This follows earlier pushback from civil service unions and discussions about tenure extensions, but the Head of Service has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to enforcing the existing tenure regime.