 has directed the immediate retirement of officers who have either surpassed 60 years of age){kind=link}
The Police Service Commission (PSC) has directed the immediate retirement of officers who have either surpassed 60 years of age or completed more than 35 years in service.
The decision was made during an extraordinary meeting of the commission.
In a statement issued by PSC spokesperson Ikechukwu Ani, the commission announced that it had revisited and overturned a 2017 policy that allowed officers to use their enlistment date rather than their initial appointment date to determine their length of service.
According to the PSC, this previous policy contradicted public service regulations, specifically Rule No. 020908 (i & ii), which mandates retirement upon reaching 35 years of service or the age of 60.
The commission reaffirmed its adherence to this rule and approved the immediate implementation of retirements for affected officers.
The directive has been communicated to Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun for enforcement. Egbetokun, appointed by President Bola Tinubu in June 2023, was officially confirmed as the IGP by the National Police Council in October 2023.
Although Section 7 of the Police Act 2020 stipulates that an IGP serves a four-year tenure, Egbetokun, who turned 60 in September 2024, was expected to retire.
However, the National Assembly passed a bill in July 2024 allowing him to remain in office until the completion of his term.
Despite debates over his continued tenure, the Federal Government reaffirmed its support for Egbetokun on Thursday, stating that his extended stay was legally justified.