Amid growing debate over the tenure extension of Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun that led to sowore’s arrest, the Police Service Commission (PSC) has issued a directive for the immediate retirement of all senior police officers who have exceeded 35 years in service or are above 60 years of age.
The Commission’s decision follows a review of its 2017 resolution, which had previously allowed officers to use their enlistment date instead of their initial appointment date for service calculation. In a statement by PSC’s Head of Press and Public Relations, Ikechukwu Ani, the Commission declared that the policy contradicted Public Service Rule No. 020908 (i & ii), which mandates retirement upon reaching the stipulated service years or age.
“The Police Service Commission, at its first extraordinary meeting, approved the immediate retirement of senior police officers who have spent over 35 years in service and those above 60 years of age,” Ani stated.
The directive comes at a time when legal experts and public commentators are debating the legality of Egbetokun’s extended stay in office.
Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Kunle Adegoke explained that while the decision does not explicitly violate constitutional provisions, its legality remains open to judicial interpretation. He noted that in cases where the law does not expressly prohibit tenure extension, the appointing authority may have the power to extend an official’s service.
“Where the law specifies a tenure, it may not be within the appointing authority’s power to extend it unless a second term is allowed. However, in the absence of a clear prohibition, the general rule is that what is not forbidden is permitted,” Adegoke stated.
Legal perspectives on the matter remain divided. Former chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association’s Section of Public Interest and Development Law, Monday Ubani, argued that the IGP’s extended tenure is backed by an Act of Parliament, which supersedes civil service regulations.
“The Police Act defines the IGP’s powers and tenure. The amendment states that the four-year tenure runs irrespective of age. Even if an IGP has turned 60, the law permits the continuation of tenure,” Ubani explained.
He further emphasized that in any legal conflict between civil service rules and an Act of Parliament, the latter takes precedence.
Another legal expert, Ifeday Adedipe, SAN, supported this position, referencing a law signed by former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2020, which he argued justified the current administration’s stance.
“As long as the law was duly passed by the National Assembly and assented to by the executive, the extension remains valid. There is nothing arbitrary or dictatorial about it,” Adedipe said.
He also expressed concerns over the frequent change of police leadership, which he believes affects operational stability and weakens institutional efficiency.
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“One of the major challenges in our policing system is the high turnover of IGPs—some serve for just a year or two. This instability prevents the development of a strong institutional culture,” he added.
Comparing Nigeria’s police leadership structure to other nations, Adedipe highlighted how long-serving leadership in institutions such as the judiciary and executive arms of government fosters consistency and continuity.
Adedipe further stressed the need for policy reforms to ensure longer tenures for Inspectors General of Police, arguing that frequent leadership changes weaken the force’s effectiveness.
“If someone is appointed Inspector General of Police, let him serve for five or six years. That way, we can properly evaluate his leadership rather than making arbitrary removals to satisfy political interests, Punchng Reported
