The Police Service Commission (PSC) in Nigeria has directed the immediate retirement of all senior police officers who have either exceeded 35 years in service or are above the age of 60.
The directive comes amid controversy surrounding the tenure of Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, who recently turned 60. While the Police and the Attorney General of the Federation have defended his continued stay in office as lawful, the PSC’s latest decision underscores a strict adherence to public service retirement regulations.
In a statement issued on Friday, PSC’s Head of Press and Public Relations, Ikechukwu Ani, confirmed that the decision was reached during the commission’s first extraordinary meeting of 2025.
“The Commission at its 1st extraordinary meeting of the 6th Management Board held today, Friday, 31st January 2025, approved the immediate retirement of those officers who have spent more than 35 years in service and those above 60 years of age,” the statement read.
The meeting was chaired by PSC Chairman, retired DIG Hashimu Argungu, and attended by key officials, including retired Supreme Court Justice Adamu Paul Galumje and retired DIG Taiwo Lakanu. The decision has been formally conveyed to the Inspector General of Police for immediate implementation.
This ruling revisits a 2017 decision that allowed force entrants to count their date of appointment instead of enlistment, which the PSC now considers a violation of Public Service Rule No. 020908. The move is expected to reshape the police hierarchy and affect several high-ranking officers across the force.
