Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, is facing pressure over his administration’s directive requiring civil servants approaching retirement to proceed on compulsory three-month pre-retirement leave, amid concerns raised by affected workers about their service years and retirement benefits.

The controversy followed an October 12, 2026, memorandum issued by the Office of the Head of Service and signed by the state Head of Service, Benson Ojeikere.

The directive, which was addressed to permanent secretaries, heads of parastatals and heads of non-ministerial departments, instructed them to identify workers due for retirement and ensure compliance with the three-month pre-retirement leave requirement.

According to the memorandum, the directive applies to employees who have attained the statutory retirement age of 60 years or completed 35 years in service, whichever comes first. It also covers directors affected by the state’s eight-year tenure policy.

The development attracted criticism from some civil servants, who expressed concerns that the policy could force experienced officers out of active service before their expected retirement dates.

Some affected workers also questioned the implementation of the directive, particularly regarding the calculation of their years in service, promotion records and the payment of outstanding retirement benefits.

In response to the concerns, some workers appealed to the state government to reconsider the policy and ensure that their entitlements were adequately protected.

However, the Head of Service defended the directive, explaining that the arrangement was intended to enable retiring workers to complete their pension documentation early and reduce delays in receiving retirement benefits.

Ojeikere told The Punch that the government intended to ensure that pension payments commenced promptly after workers exited the service.

He also explained that the government would continue paying affected workers during the three-month period while their pension documentation was being processed.

The controversy has also drawn attention to a June 2026 directive by the Federal Government, which clarified that the three-month retirement notice period for federal civil servants should not automatically be treated as compulsory leave.

The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack, had directed federal ministries, departments and agencies to discontinue the practice of forcing retiring officers to leave their duty posts during the notice period.

She explained that officers approaching retirement were expected to give three months’ notice, attend an approved pre-retirement seminar and complete their pension documentation while remaining in active service, except where authorised otherwise.

However, the federal clarification was directed at federal institutions, and its applicability to Abia State’s public service rules requires separate legal and administrative consideration.

As of November 6, 2026, available reports have not independently confirmed that Otti has formally reversed the October directive following pressure from workers.

The Abia State Government is yet to provide a publicly verified clarification confirming such a reversal.

The controversy comes amid broader discussions about workers’ welfare, pension administration and the need to protect the rights of public servants approaching retirement.