Maternity, Paternity & Special Leave
Key Takeaways
- Under PSR Rule 100218, a pregnant female officer is entitled to 16 weeks (approximately 4 months) of maternity leave at a stretch with full pay, beginning not less than 4 weeks before the expected date of delivery.
- The Federal Government increased maternity leave from 12 weeks to 16 weeks in 2018; the annual leave for that year is regarded as part of maternity leave under the PSR.
- A nursing mother is granted two hours off-duty every day for a maximum of six months from the date of resumption after maternity leave (PSR Rule 100219).
- Paternity leave of 14 working days was introduced in the PSR 2021 Edition (Chapter 12, Section 120219) and operationalized by the Head of the Civil Service circular dated 25th November 2022; it is granted once in two years and limited to four children.
- Compassionate leave of up to two weeks on full pay may be granted for the burial of a spouse, child, parent, or parent of a spouse (PSR Rule 100230).
- Pre-retirement leave requires three months' notice: one month of a mandatory pre-retirement workshop plus two months to put records straight (PSR Rule 100238).
Maternity, Paternity & Special Leave
Quick Answer: Nigerian female public servants are entitled to 16 weeks of maternity leave with full pay (PSR Rule 100218), an increase from the previous 12 weeks made in 2018. Paternity leave of 14 working days was formally codified in the PSR 2021 Edition (Section 120219) and operationalized by a 2022 Head of Service circular. Special leave types — study, examination, casual, compassionate, and pre-retirement — each have distinct PSR thresholds and conditions.
Maternity Leave
Maternity leave is the authorized absence from duty of a serving female officer granted on account of pregnancy, covering the prenatal and postnatal periods (PSR Rule 100217).
Core Entitlement (Rule 100218)
A pregnant female officer is entitled to 16 weeks (approximately 4 months) of maternity leave at a stretch, beginning not less than 4 weeks before the expected date of delivery, with full pay. A medical certificate showing the expected date of confinement must be presented not less than two months before that date.
Interaction With Annual Leave
A critical PSR rule tested in COMPRO: the annual leave for that year is regarded as part of the maternity leave (Rule 100218). If an officer has already enjoyed her annual leave before proceeding on maternity leave, the equivalent portion of the maternity leave will be without pay. This prevents double-counting of leave entitlements.
Nursing Mother's Time Off (Rule 100219)
A female officer who is nursing a child is granted two hours off-duty every day for a maximum period of six months from the date she resumes duty after maternity leave. This nursing break is paid and is in addition to regular working hours.
Protections Around Maternity
The PSR also shields pregnant officers from dismissal and disciplinary action during maternity:
- No dismissal for pregnancy (Rule 030204): No female public servant shall be required to resign her appointment or retire by reason of pregnancy alone.
- Disciplinary proceedings postponed (Rule 030306): Any disciplinary proceedings that might otherwise have been taken against a female officer during her maternity leave shall be postponed until the leave has expired.
Hedged note: The 16-week entitlement reflects the 2018 Federal Government increase from 12 weeks. Earlier PSR editions referenced 12 weeks; candidates should always apply the current 16-week figure unless a question explicitly references the pre-2018 regime.
Paternity Leave
Paternity leave is a comparatively recent addition to the federal leave framework. The PSR 2021 Edition (Chapter 12, Section 120219) provides for 14 working days of paternity leave for male federal civil servants.
Operational Circular
The provision was operationalized by a circular from the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Folasade Yemi-Esan, dated 25th November 2022 (Reference No: HCSF/SPSO/ODD/NCE/RR/650309/3), titled Computation of Leave Based on Working Days and Approval of Paternity Leave in the Public Service. The Federal Executive Council had earlier approved the 14-day entitlement in September 2021.
Conditions for Paternity Leave
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Duration | 14 working days |
| Pay | Paid |
| Eligibility | Male officer whose wife gives birth, or whose family adopts a child under 4 months |
| Frequency | Once in 2 years |
| Maximum children | 4 children |
| Documentary requirement | Expected Date of Delivery (EDD) report; for adoption, approval from a relevant government agency |
Hedged note: Some Nigerian states (Lagos approved 10 days in 2014; Enugu approved 3 weeks in 2015) have their own paternity leave regimes. The COMPRO exam covers the federal PSR figure of 14 working days; do not confuse state-level variations with the federal rule.
Study Leave (Rules 100223-100228)
Study leave is granted to a confirmed serving officer to undertake an approved course of study within or outside Nigeria. There are three variants:
- In-Service Training (Rule 100225): Up to 2 years with normal emoluments, allowances, and course fees. The period counts toward gratuity and pension.
- Study Leave with Pay (Rule 100226): Normal emoluments and allowances; duration not exceeding 2 years, with a possible 1-year extension for carry-over.
- Study Leave without Pay (Rules 100227-100228): Granted where the course is not in the Ministry's approved training proposals. Duration not more than 4 years initially, with a possible 1-year extension. The period is not regarded as a break in service.
The Permanent Secretary must certify evidence of admission, course duration, relevance to the officer's profession, and value to the service.
Examination Leave (Rules 100220-100221)
- Compulsory Examination (Rule 100220): Special leave may be granted to take an examination required as a condition of appointment.
- Non-Compulsory Examination (Rule 100221): Special leave with full pay may be granted for an exam that is not a condition of current appointment, provided the Permanent Secretary certifies that passing the exam is likely to enhance the officer's value to the Service, evidence of admission, and a time-table for the examination.
Casual Leave (Rules 100214-100215)
Casual leave is absence from duty for a short period not exceeding an aggregate of 5 working days within a leave year, authorized by a superior officer. It is granted only after an officer has exhausted his or her annual leave, and is deductible in advance or arrears of earned leave. A maximum of 7 days per leave year may be granted, with any excess beyond 7 days requiring approval of the Permanent Secretary or Head of Extra-Ministerial Office.
Compassionate Leave (Rule 100230)
An officer may be allowed special leave on full pay on compassionate grounds for a period of up to two weeks for the burial of a spouse, child, parent, or parent of a spouse. This is distinct from casual leave and is tied to a specific bereavement event.
Pre-Retirement Leave (Rule 100238)
Officers are required to give three months' notice before the effective date of retirement. At the commencement of the three months, the officer proceeds immediately on a mandatory one-month pre-retirement workshop or seminar. For the remaining two months, the retiring officer is expected to put his or her records straight to facilitate speedy processing of retirement benefits. This is not vacation leave — it is an administrative transition period.
Exam Tip
COMPRO frequently tests the interaction rule between maternity and annual leave (Rule 100218), the nursing break entitlement (Rule 100219), and the paternity leave frequency cap of once in two years. Memorize the numeric pairs: 16 weeks / 4 weeks before delivery / 2 hours for 6 months / 14 working days paternity / once in 2 years / 4 children.
Under PSR Rule 100218, how is an officer's annual leave for the year treated when she proceeds on maternity leave?
Under the PSR 2021 Edition and the November 2022 Head of Service circular, which of the following correctly states the conditions for federal paternity leave?