The Public Service Commission (PSC) has clarified the mandatory retirement age for lecturers, researchers, and staff working in public universities and research institutions across the country.
In a circular issued in March 2026, PSC Chief Executive Officer Paul Famba outlined the retirement guidelines for academic and non-teaching staff. The circular was addressed to Cabinet Secretaries, Principal Secretaries, chairs of councils of public universities and constituent colleges, vice chancellors, the regulator of the judiciary, and the Auditor-General.
According to the directive, professors and research professors, including associate professors and associate research professors employed on permanent and pensionable terms, will retire at 70 years.
For employees registered as persons with disabilities (PWDs), the retirement age has been extended to 75 years.
The PSC circular further states that senior lecturers, senior research fellows, lecturers, and research fellows on permanent and pensionable terms will retire at 65 years, while those registered as persons with disabilities will retire at 70 years.
For assistant lecturers, tutorial fellows, and junior research fellows serving on contractual terms, the retirement age has been set at 60 years, and 65 years for persons with disabilities.
The same retirement limits apply to graduate assistants and research assistants, according to the commission.
The PSC also directed that research scientists working in public research institutions will retire at 65 years, while those registered as persons with disabilities will retire at 70 years.
Meanwhile, non-teaching staff in public universities and related institutions will continue to retire at 60 years.
However, employees registered as persons with disabilities will retire at 65 years, in line with the provisions of the Public Service Regulations.
“However, non-teaching staff registered as persons with disability shall retire on attaining 65 years as provided in Regulation 70 (1) (b) of the Public Service Regulations,” Famba said in the circular.
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