The Police Service Commission (PSC) says it has approved the immediate retirement of senior police officers who are above 60 years old or spent over 35 years in service.
A statement on Friday by Ikechukwu Ani, PSC spokesperson, said the commission approved the immediate retirement of the affected officers at the extraordinary meeting of the management board.
Ani disclosed that the commission reversed the decision approved in September 2017 that “force entrants should have their date of appointment in the force against the date of their enlistment”.
The PSC spokesperson said the commission concluded that the September 2017 decision contradicts Public Service Rule No 020908 (i&ii), which stipulates that civil servant should retire on attainment of 35 years in service or 60 years of age.
Ani said the decision has been communicated to Kayode Egbetokun, the inspector-general of police.
“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,” the statement reads.
“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 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 and 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 development is coming in the wake of the controversy trailing Egbetokun’s tenure extension.
On Thursday, Lateef Fagbemi, attorney-general of the federation (AGF) and minister of justice, said the continuous stay of Egbetokun in office is lawful.
Fagbemi said Egbetokun’s appointment, which took effect on October 31, 2023, remains valid for a period of four years.
On June 19, 2023, President Bola Tinubu appointed Egbetokun as the IGP to replace Usman Baba.
On October 31, 2023, the National Police Council confirmed Egbetokun as the substantive IGP.
According to section 7 of the Police Act 2020, the person appointed to the office of the IGP shall hold the office for four years.
But Egbetokun, who was born on September 4, 1964, was expected to retire on September 4, 2024, when he turned 60 years old.
Section 18(8) of the Act, which makes direct reference to the civil service rule on retirement, states that “every police officer shall, on recruitment or appointment, serve in the Nigeria Police Force for a period of 35 years or until he attains the age of 60 years, whichever is earlier”.
However, in July 2024, the national assembly hurriedly passed a bill seeking to allow the IGP to remain in office “until the end of the term stipulated in his appointment letter”.
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