Elections: All Police Officers Set to Retire Must Proceed—PSC

The commission has stated that it will not extend the contracts of the top police officers who are retiring. 

According to the Police Service Commission (PSC), police personnel who are eligible for retirement must leave the force before the presidential election on February 25. 

Ikechukwu Ani, a spokesman for the PSC, said in a statement on Tuesday that the commission would not extend the contracts of the top police officers who are retiring. 

He claims that the Police Act, the PSC Act, and the Nigerian Constitution prohibit the Commission from extending the tenure of top police officers who are retiring. 

“The Commission decided it will not extend the terms of the retiring senior police officers, emphasising that even when requested, it cannot do so as it is against all existing laws, including the Police Act, the Police Service Commission Act, and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Ani said. 

He informed Nigerians that the Nigeria Police Force has a formalised succession plan, particularly in light of the annual infusion of 10,000 constables and numerous other thousands of trainee Assistant Superintendants of Police (ASPs) from the Police Academy. 

Following a management meeting on Monday, Ani stated the ongoing campaign for the extension of the tenures of some Deputy Inspectors General (DIGs), Assistant Inspectors General (AIGs), Commissioners (CPs), and other senior police officers is unnecessary. 

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He called it a violation of every piece of legislation currently in effect in the nation that governs admission to and departure from the public sector. 

“The Commission reassured Nigerians that despite the rumoured retirement of hundreds of senior police personnel, there won’t be a void in the police hierarchy.” It was decided to strictly enforce the legal requirements that a working public officer, whether in the police or in any other government agency, must resign from their position at the age of 60 or after 35 years of service. 

He continued, “The Commission said it would not support the subversion of the laws governing entry and exit from the Nigeria Public Service, adding that the retiring senior police officers are not indispensable and that their departure would not in any way or manner affect the outcome of the 2023 general election.”