A fresh controversy has erupted in the Nigerian Police Force as Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun has countered the Police Service Commission’s (PSC) directive ordering the immediate retirement of senior officers who have either exceeded 35 years in service or turned 60.
In a document obtained by Peoples Gazette on Wednesday evening, Egbetokun directed all police-related departments to halt any action on the PSC’s order pending further instructions.
“Inspector General of Police strongly directs you stay action on [the] letter under reference pending further directive above for your strict compliance, acknowledge receipt please,” the document, dated February 5, 2025, read.
PSC Orders Retirement Based on Public Service Rules
Last week, the PSC, through its spokesman Ikechukwu Ani, announced that it was enforcing Public Service Rule No. 020908 (i & ii), which mandates the retirement of public officers after 35 years of service or upon reaching 60 years of age.
The commission stated that its decision followed a review of its earlier stance from its 24th plenary meeting in September 2017, which allowed police officers to use their enlistment date rather than their initial appointment date for determining their retirement. The PSC has now reversed that decision, citing its inconsistency with the public service rules.
Despite this order, the commission clarified that it lacks the constitutional power to determine the appointment or retirement of the Inspector-General of Police himself.
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Egbetokun’s Stay in Office Sparks Debate
IGP Egbetokun’s counter-order has intensified the controversy surrounding his continued tenure, with legal and political analysts questioning whether his directive undermines the statutory powers of the PSC.
Critics argue that allowing senior officers, including Egbetokun, to remain in office contradicts existing laws. Human rights activist Omoyele Sowore has been particularly vocal about the issue, previously describing Egbetokun’s appointment and tenure extension as illegal. The police subsequently took Sowore to court, insisting that the appointment and tenure extension of the IGP were constitutional.
Egbetokun, born in September 1964, turned 60 last year. He was enlisted in the police force in 1990 and was appointed Inspector-General by President Bola Tinubu in June 2023.
Legal Implications and Possible Next Steps
The current standoff raises questions about the authority of the PSC in enforcing retirements within the police force. The PSC, established by law, is responsible for appointing, promoting, and dismissing police officers, except for the IGP, whose appointment and removal fall under the president’s powers.
If Egbetokun’s directive stands, it could weaken the PSC’s oversight of the force and set a precedent for future defiance of public service rules. On the other hand, if the PSC insists on enforcing its order, a legal showdown between the two institutions may be inevitable.