The Police Service Commission (PSC) has mandated the immediate retirement of senior police officers who have surpassed 35 years of service or are above 60 years of age. This directive, announced on January 31, 2025, aims to ensure adherence to Public Service Rule No. 020908 (i & ii), which stipulates retirement upon reaching these service or age thresholds.
Ikechukwu Ani, the PSC spokesman, emphasized that this decision aligns with the commission’s commitment to upholding public service regulations. He stated, “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.”
This action reverses a previous policy from the commission’s 24th plenary meeting in September 2017, which allowed officers to use their date of enlistment instead of their initial date of appointment for retirement calculations. The PSC has now concluded that this earlier decision contradicted public service principles and violated the aforementioned rule.
The directive has been formally communicated to the Inspector-General of Police for prompt implementation. The decision was made during an extraordinary meeting presided over by Commission Chairman, retired DIG Hashimu Argungu, with other distinguished members in attendance.
This move underscores the PSC’s dedication to maintaining discipline and adherence to established regulations within the Nigeria Police Force. It also highlights the commission’s role in ensuring that leadership positions are filled by officers who meet the required service duration and age criteria, thereby promoting efficiency and accountability within the force.
