OVER 340 officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) have proceeded on retirement ahead of the submission of the report of a disciplinary committee that probed their continued stay in office.
The committee constituted by Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun met between Monday and Tuesday at the Louis Edet headquarters of the Force in Abuja.
It was supported by the Force Management in the screening of the personnel.
This newspaper could not ascertain at the weekend if the affected officers or men suddenly opted to quit to avoid being sanctioned.
They had allegedly refused to proceed with retirement despite clocking 60 years or spending 35 years in service.
A source close to the committee, who confirmed their exit revealed that an Assistant Inspector-General (AIG) in charge of Zone 7, Benneth Igweh, two Commissioners of Police and a high-ranking police lawyer, were among those summoned by the committee.
Igweh has officially handed over to Mohammed Gumel as the new AIG of Zone 7 headquartered in Abuja.
Our source also revealed that some of those affected ‘’converted from rank and file to senior officers and did not go to the police academy.’’
He said: “The committee started the screening on Monday and concluded it on Tuesday.
“Over 340 officers have now proceeded on retirement. You are aware that Benneth Igweh is among them. He has handed over.
“Many of them are senior officers. Those who are aware that they were supposed to go last year have also gone. I am not sure if anyone was penalised
“It was the committee and the force management team that were allowed to be part of those that screened the officers.
“They are those that were supposed to have retired from 2020 till date. They did not alter their age but most of them converted from rank and file to senior officers and did not go to the police academy.
“The rule is that if you want to move up as a senior officer, you have to resign as an officer in the rank and file. But most of them did not do that. They were operating on the two levels.
“There is a retirement age for them as a constable and a retirement age for them as senior officers or commissioned officers.”
The Police Service Commission (PSC) had at a meeting in Abuja this month ordered the immediate retirement of all senior police officers who have either exceeded 35 years in service or are above the age of 60.
PSC’s Head of Press and Public Relations, Ikechukwu Ani, recalled that the commission at its September 27 and 28, 2017 plenary meeting approved that the NPF entrants should have their date of appointment against the date of their enlistment on their files.
Ani said: “The commission has passionately revisited its decision and has come to the conclusion that the said decision, in its intent and purpose, contradicted the principle of a merger of service in the public service, and it is in violation of Public Service Rule No 020908 (i & ii) which provides for retirement on the attainment of 35 years in service or 60 years of age.
“Accordingly, the commission at its First t extraordinary meeting of the 6th Management Board held on Friday, 31st January 2025, approved the immediate retirement of those officers who have spent more than 35 years in service and those above 60 years of age.”
“The commission’s decision was been conveyed to the Inspector General of Police for implementation.”
Critics had queried the PSC decision to retire the affected officers while the tenure of IGP Egbetokun was extended by President Bola Tinubu.
But the Attorney-General of the Federation and Justice Minister Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) explained that the President acted within the law.
Efforts to get the reaction of Force Public Relations Officer Olumuyiwa Adejobi were futile.