All Authorized Officers
MANDATORY RETIREMENT AGE OF PUBLIC OFFICERS
Your attention is drawn to circular Ref. No. OP.CAB.2/7A dated 20 March, 2009 that reviewed the mandatory retirement age from 55 to 60 years with effect from 1st April, 2009.
The rationale for this review was largely to cushion the public service from loss of employees with critical skills while they are still productive, especially employees in professional and technical areas with hands-on experience, where the government has invested considerable resources in training and capacity building.
Retirement at 55 years further tended to create succession gaps in such key areas, necessitating requests for extension beyond retirement age or re-engagement on contract.
Section 80( l)(a) and (b) of the Public Service Commission Act provides that a public officer shall retire from the Service with effect from the date of attaining the mandatory retirement age, and the Commission or other appointing authority shall not extend the service of such retired public officer beyond the mandatory retirement age.
This provision notwithstanding, the Commission has continued to receive numerous requests for extension of service for various reasons.
Accordingly, it has been decided that, with effect from 1s January, 2021 the Commission shall not approve any extension of service for officers retiring from the Service upon attainment of the mandatory retirement age of Sixty (60) years, and Sixty Five (65) years for persons with disability.
The retirement age for academic staff of public universities and research scientists shall be guided by the relevant legislation and guidelines.
In view of the foregoing, Ministries, Departments and Agencies are required to ensure proactive succession planning for continuity in service delivery upon retirement of officers.
Kindly bring the contents of this circular to all officers under your jurisdiction for information and implementation accordingly.
STEPHEN K. KIROGO, CBS,
FPRSK CHAIRMAN