Amid intensifying discussions regarding the tenure extension of the Inspector General of Police (IGP), the Police Service Commission (PSC) has issued a decisive directive mandating the retirement of officers who have surpassed either
60 years of age or 35 years in service.
This resolution emerged from an extraordinary session convened by the commission, culminating in an official pronouncement.
In a statement delivered by its spokesperson, Ikechukwu Ani, the PSC underscored its reversal of a prior 2017 decision, which had permitted force entrants to record their appointment dates based on enlistment rather than the actual
commencement of service.
Following an exhaustive review, the commission determined that the previous policy contravened fundamental tenets of public service employment, particularly the stipulations enshrined in Public Service Rule No. 020908 (i & ii).
This clause unequivocally mandates retirement upon completing 35 years of service or reaching 60 years of age, whichever comes first.
Consequently, at its first extraordinary meeting of the 6th Management Board, convened on Friday, January 31, 2025, the PSC sanctioned the immediate disengagement of officers exceeding these thresholds.
The directive has been formally communicated to Inspector General Kayode Egbetokun, instructing immediate compliance with the new mandate.
President Bola Tinubu had appointed Egbetokun as IGP in June 2023, succeeding Usman Baba. The National Police Council later confirmed him as the substantive head of the force in October 2023.
However, a statutory examination of the Police Act 2020, specifically Section 7, outlines a fixed four-year tenure for an IGP. Under these provisions, Egbetokun, born on September 4, 1964, should have retired in September 2024 upon
reaching the statutory age of 60.
Further referencing Section 18(8) of the same act, the rule reiterates that a police officer’s service tenure is capped at either 35 years or 60 years of age, depending on which milestone is reached first.
Despite these parameters, the National Assembly in July 2024 ratified a bill allowing Egbetokun to retain his position until the completion of the term outlined in his appointment letter.
Even as calls for his retirement persist, the Federal Government reaffirmed its support for his continued leadership on Thursday, asserting that his extended tenure aligns with legal provisions.
