The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has directed police departments to “stay action” on directive of the Police Service Commission (PSC) mandating the immediate retirement of senior police officers who have served for over 35 years or reached the age of 60.
Last Friday, the PSC directed the immediate retirement of all senior police officers who have surpassed 35 years of service or are over 60 in age.
The PSC spokesperson, Ikechukwu Ani, explained that the commission revised its earlier 2017 plenary decision, which allowed police officers to use their date of enlistment for retirement calculations. This, the commission said, was inconsistent with Public Service Rule No. 020908 (i & ii), which mandates retirement after 35 years of service or upon reaching 60 years of age.
While the PSC issued the directive last Friday amid controversy surrounding the tenure of IGP Egbetokun, having attained the retirement age of 60 on September 4, 2024, it later clarified that it does not have constitutional authority to determine the appointment or retirement of the IGP.
However, citing an internal memo with reference CH:8400/FS5/FHQ/AB3/VOL.2/293, a report by Peoples Gazette, said the IGP, who initially approved the implementation of the PSC’s decision on 1st February, has directed all police departments to suspend implementation of the directive until further notice.
“RE: Police Service Commission decision at its 1st extraordinary meeting of the 6th management board on the regularisation of first appointment of cadet ASPs/Inspectors force entrants… Inspector General of Police strongly directs you to stay action pending further directive for your strict compliance,” the memo read.
