PSC Orders Immediate Retirement of Senior Police Officers
The Police Service Commission (PSC) has approved the immediate retirement of senior police officers who are either over 60 years old or have served for more than 35 years.
A statement issued on Friday by Ikechukwu Ani, PSC spokesperson, revealed that the decision was made during an extraordinary meeting of the commission’s management board.
The commission also reversed a decision from September 2017, which stated that “force entrants should have their date of appointment in the force against the date of their enlistment.”
According to Ani, the PSC concluded that the 2017 decision conflicted with Public Service Rule No 020908 (i&ii), which mandates civil servants to retire upon reaching 35 years of service or the age of 60.
“The Police Service Commission rose from its first extraordinary meeting with the approval for the immediate retirement of senior Police Officers who have spent more than 35 years in service and those above 60 years of age,” the statement said.
“The Commission, at its 24th Plenary Meeting of 27th and 28th September 2017, had approved that the Force Entrants should have their date of appointment in the Force against the date of their enlistment.
“The Commission has revisited their decision and has concluded that the said decision, in its intent and purpose, contradicted the principle of the merger of service in the Public service and violated Public Service Rule No 020908 (i&ii), which stipulates retirement on the attainment of 35 years in service or 60 years of age.”
The move comes amid controversy surrounding the tenure extension of Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun.
On Thursday, Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, declared that Egbetokun’s continued stay in office is lawful. Fagbemi stated that Egbetokun’s appointment, effective from October 31, 2023, is valid for four years.
President Bola Tinubu appointed Egbetokun as IGP on June 19, 2023, to replace Usman Baba, and the National Police Council confirmed his appointment as substantive IGP on October 31, 2023.
Under Section 7 of the Police Act 2020, the IGP is to serve for four years upon appointment. However, Egbetokun, born on September 4, 1964, is set to retire on September 4, 2024, upon turning 60.
Section 18(8) of the Police Act aligns with civil service retirement rules, stating, “every police officer shall, on recruitment or appointment, serve in the Nigeria Police Force for a period of 35 years or until he attains the age of 60 years, whichever is earlier.”
Despite this, in July 2024, the National Assembly passed a bill seeking to extend the IGP’s tenure “until the end of the term stipulated in his appointment letter.”
