The Police Service Commission (PSC) has directed the immediate retirement of all senior police officers who have exceeded 35 years in service or are over 60 years old.
This decision follows growing controversy surrounding the tenure of the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, who recently turned 60. However, both the Nigeria Police Force and the Attorney General of the Federation maintain that his continued stay in office remains lawful.
According to details compiled by YEPS News, a statement issued on Friday by the PSC’s Head of Press and Public Relations, Ikechukwu Ani, highlighted that the commission revisited and overturned its 2017 resolution from the 24th plenary meeting, which permitted force entrants to use their enlistment date instead of their initial appointment date for service calculations.
Ani explained that this decision has now been reversed due to its misalignment with Public Service Rule No. 020908 (i & ii), which mandates retirement upon reaching 35 years in service or the age of 60.
“The Police Service Commission, after its first extraordinary meeting, approved the immediate retirement of senior police officers who have exceeded 35 years in service or are above 60 years of age,” Ani stated.
He added, “At the commission’s 24th plenary meeting held on September 27-28, 2017, a decision was made to allow force entrants to use their enlistment date rather than their initial appointment date. However, after thorough reconsideration, it was found that this approach contradicted the principle of service merger in the public sector and violated Public Service Rule No. 020908 (i & ii), which mandates retirement upon completing 35 years of service or reaching 60 years of age.”
YEPS News also learned that the directive has been officially communicated to the Inspector General of Police for immediate execution.
The statement further disclosed that the extraordinary meeting was chaired by PSC Chairman, DIG Hashimu Argungu (retd.), with other key members present, including retired Supreme Court Justice Adamu Paul Galumje (Judiciary Representative), DIG Taiwo Lakanu (retd.), and Chief Onyemuchi Nnamani, Secretary to the Commission.
“The commission’s resolution has been relayed to the Inspector General of Police for swift implementation,” the statement concluded.