Police Service Commission Mandates Retirement of Senior Officers Amid Debate on IG’s Tenure Extension
The Police Service Commission (PSC) has directed senior police officers to retire if they have served for over 35 years or have reached the age of 60. This directive comes at a time when there is ongoing debate about whether Police Chief Kayode Egbetokun should be allowed to extend his tenure beyond his 60th birthday.
Ikechukwu Ani, the PSC’s spokesperson, clarified that the Commission has reversed a decision made in September 2017. Previously, the rule allowed officers to count their service time from the date they were recruited into the force. However, the PSC has now decided to adhere to the Public Service Rule, which requires retirement either after 35 years of service or upon reaching 60 years of age.
Ani explained, “The Commission convened its extraordinary meeting and approved the immediate retirement of senior police officers who have served for more than 35 years or are older than 60 years.” He also pointed out that during the PSC’s 24th plenary meeting in September 2017, the rule about counting service from the date of enlistment was put in place, but this has now been revised to align with the Public Service Rule, which mandates retirement after 35 years or at 60 years of age.
In response to the issue surrounding the Police Chief’s potential tenure extension, renowned lawyer Kunle Adegoke shared his perspective. He noted that while extending the tenure of the Police Chief may not necessarily breach any constitutional provisions, it would be up to the courts to determine its full legality. Adegoke further explained that in most cases, the appointing authority can extend someone’s term unless there is a specific law that prevents it. “In cases where the law does not explicitly prohibit reappointment or tenure extension, the general rule is that what is not prohibited is allowed,” he stated.
Adegoke also emphasized that police and military institutions operate under different rules than regular civil service employees. “Members of the armed forces, police, and paramilitary bodies are governed by distinct regulations that differ from those applying to civilian public servants,” he concluded, highlighting the unique nature of their tenure and appointment processes.
