The Police Service Commission (PSC) has directed all senior police officers who have exceeded 35 years in service or are above 60 years of age to proceed with retirement immediately.
This decision was announced on Friday, January 31, following rising controversy over the tenure extension granted to Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, after he clocked 60 years.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja, the spokesman of the PSC, Ikechukwu Ani, emphasized that the directive was issued to ensure compliance with Public Service Rule No. 020908 (i & ii), which mandates retirement upon reaching the stipulated years of service or age limit.
“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,” Ani stated.
He further explained that the decision reversed an earlier stance from the commission’s 24th plenary meeting held in September 2017. At that time, the commission had approved that officers could use their date of enlistment in the force instead of their initial date of appointment. However, this policy was found to be inconsistent with the rules governing public service.
“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 passionately revisited its 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 it violates Public Service Rule No. 020908 (i & ii), which provides for retirement on attainment of 35 years in service or 60 years of age,” Ani explained.
The directive has been formally communicated to the Inspector-General of Police for immediate implementation. Ani noted that the decision was made during an extraordinary meeting presided over by the Commission Chairman, retired DIG Hashimu Argungu, with Justice Adamu Paul Galumje, retired Justice of the Supreme Court; DIG Taiwo Lakanu (rtd), fdc; and Chief Onyemuchi Nnamani, Secretary to the Commission, in attendance.
“The commission’s decision has been conveyed to the Inspector-General of Police for implementation,” Ani concluded.