The Police Service Commission (PSC) has ordered immediate retirement of senior police officers above 60 years of age and or those who have spent over 35 years in service.
Mr Ikechukwu Ani, Head of Press and Public Relations of PSC, who made the announcement in a statement on Friday – today, January 31 – in Abuja, the FCT, said the commission had in its 24th Plenary Meeting of Sept. 27 and 28, 2017 approved that the force entrants should have their date of appointment and not the date of their enlistment.
“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 merger of service in the Public Service.
“It is in violation of Public Service Rule No 020908 ( i & ii) which provides for retirement on attainment of 35 years in service or 60 years of age.
“Accordingly, the commission at its 1st extraordinary meeting of the 6th Management Board, approved the immediate retirement of officers who have spent more than 35 years in service or above 60 years of age,” he said.
He said the commission’s decision has been conveyed to the Inspector General of Police for implementation.
Ani said the extraordinary meeting of the commission was presided over by the Chairman, Mr Hashimu Argungu and was attended by other members.
The Commission’s directive, however, seems to run counter to last year’s amendment of the Police Act to allow for the inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun, who clocked 60 in September last year to continue in office.
In fact, that amendment came to the fore in public discourse only yesterday when the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi cited the amended Act to justify Egbetokun’s continued stay in office.
In a statement he personally signed, Fagbemi said the appointment of Egbetokun which took effect from October 31, 2023 would have come to an end on his attainment of 60 years of age on September 4, 2024.
However, before his retirement age, the Police Act was amended to allow the occupant of the office to remain and complete the original four year term granted under Section 7 (6) of the Act, notwithstanding the fact that he had attained the age of 60 years.
“This has, therefore, statutorily extended the tenure of office of Egbetokun to and including 31st day of October, 2027 in order to complete the four year tenure granted to him.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Egbetokun’s continued stay in office is in line with the provisions of the Police Act amended in 2024 which allow the occupant of the office to enjoy a term of four years effective from the date of his appointment as IGP, in this case, 31st day of October 2023.
By its announcement, the PSC would appear to be opining that such an amendment has grave implications because, in its intent and purpose, the government’s act of favouritism seems to contradict the principle of merger of service in the Public Service.
“It is in violation of Public Service Rule No 020908 ( i & ii) which provides for retirement on attainment of 35 years in service or 60 years of age,” the PSC stressed.
