The Inspector General of Police Olukayode Egbetokun has established a disciplinary committee aimed at addressing the situations of senior officers who have reportedly declined to retire after reaching the age of 60 or accumulating 35 years of service.
The committee is scheduled to convene at the Force Headquarters in Abuja.
Among those called to appear are an Assistant Inspector General, at least two Commissioners of Police, and a prominent police legal representative.
The directive from the IGP stated that the officers concerned should attend in “their clean working dress.”
They were also cautioned that the daily dress code must be “strictly adhered to” during their appearance.
Earlier this month, the Police Service Commission (PSC) convened a meeting in Abuja where they mandated the immediate retirement of all senior police officers who have either surpassed 35 years of service or are over the age of 60.
Ikechukwu Ani, the Head of Press and Public Relations for the commission, recalled that during the 24th Plenary Meeting on September 27th and 28th, 2017, the Commission had sanctioned that the appointment date for the Force Entrants should correspond with their enlistment date.
He stated: “The Commission has passionately revisited their decision and has come to the conclusion that the said decision in its intent and purpose contradicted the principle of a merger of service in the public service, and it is in violation of Public Service Rule No 020908 (i & ii) which provides for retirement on the attainment of 35 years in service or 60 years of age.
“Accordingly, the Commission at its 1st extraordinary meeting of the 6th Management Board held today, Friday, 31st January 2025, approved the immediate retirement of those officers who have spent more than 35 years in service and those above 60 years of age.
“The Commission’s decision has been conveyed to the Inspector General of Police for implementation.”
Critics have questioned the PSC’s decision to retire the affected officers considering that President Bola Tinubu extended IGP Egbetokun’s tenure.
However, Attorney General of the Federation and Justice Minister Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) clarified that the President acted lawfully.
In the meantime, the National Industrial Court of Nigeria has postponed further hearings in the case of several police officers challenging their retirement until March 18.
Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Egong Egwu Egong, Edwin Okoro, and three others contended that the PSC based its calculations of their service years on a controversial circular, which counted from their initial entry date into the police force rather than from their entry into the Police Academy.
“The judgment of the court is that the date is when the policemen got into the Academy. There is no appeal against the judgment.
He urged the court to maintain the status quo while awaiting the hearing of the committal proceedings aimed at determining if there has been a breach, asserting that the court’s judgment must be followed.
