Nigeria’s Police Service Commission (PSC) has ordered the immediate retirement of all police officers who are above 60 years old or have served for more than 35 years.
In a statement on Friday, PSC spokesman Ikechukwu Ani confirmed the decision, which was reached during an extraordinary meeting.
“The Police Service Commission rose from its first extraordinary meeting with the approval for the immediate retirement of senior police officers who have spent more than 35 years in service and those above 60 years of age,” Ani said.
The decision reverses a 2017 policy that allowed officers to count their date of appointment in the force rather than their enlistment date.
The commission argued that the previous policy contradicted Nigeria’s public service rules, which mandate retirement after 35 years of service or at the age of 60, whichever comes first.
The move comes amid growing calls for the retirement of IGP Egbetokun, whose tenure has been extended beyond the usual retirement age.
Egbetokun, appointed by President Bola Tinubu in June 2023, turned 60 in September 2024, which under normal circumstances would have required his retirement. However, in July 2024, the National Assembly passed a bill allowing him to remain in office until the end of his four-year term, as stipulated in his appointment letter.
Despite criticism and legal debates over his extended tenure, the Federal Government reaffirmed its support for Egbetokun on Thursday, insisting that his continued stay in office is lawful.
With the new PSC directive mandating the immediate retirement of officers over 60, it remains unclear whether Egbetokun will be affected or whether his extension remains in force.