*Controversy Over Egbetokun’s Tenure Rages
Sowore: He Should Retire
THE Police Service Commission (PSC) has approved and ordered the immediate retirement of all senior Police officers who have either exceeded 35 years in service or attained the mandatory retirement age of 60.
This is even as controversy rages over the tenure of the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, who has served for over 35 years and attained the gage of 60.
The Police authorities and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, insisted that his continued stay in office was lawful, the Police Service Act having been hurriedly amended to say officers appointed to positions should serve a four-year tenure.
The PSC, in a statement by its Head of Press and Public Relations, Ikechukwu Ani, said the Commission reviewed its earlier stance from the 24th plenary meeting in September 2017 allowing Force entrants to use their date of enlistment, instead of their initial appointment date.
According to Ani, the PSC has now reversed this decision, citing its inconsistency with Public Service Rule No. 020908 (i & ii), which mandates retirement upon reaching 35 years in service or the age of 60.
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.
“The Commission, at its 24th plenary meeting of 27th and 28th September 2017, had approved that the Force entrants should have their date of appointment in the Force, against the date of their enlistment.
“The Commission has passionately revisited their decision and has concluded that the said decision in its intent and purpose contradicted the principle of the merger of service in the public service and it violates of Public Service Rule No 020908 ( i & ii), which provides for retirement on attainment of 35 years in service or 60 years of age.”
Ani stated that the directive had been formally communicated to the IGP for immediate implementation.
The meeting was presided over by its Chairman, DIG Hashimu Argungu (rtd), with Justice Adamu Paul Galumje (a retired Justice of the Supreme Court); Hon, a commissioner representing the Judiciary; DIG Taiwo Lakanu, Commissioner representing the Police and Chief Onyemuchi Nnamani, Secretary, the Commission in attendance.
Meanwhile, the presidential candidate of Action Alliance (AA) in the 2023 general elections, Omoyele Sowore, described the Egbetokun as an “Illegal Inspector General of Police,” alleging that he hurriedly left a conference in Rwanda to return to Nigeria to address concerns by Police cadres regarding “his continued unjust, unfair and illegal occupation of the office of the IGP beyond the expiration of his tenure in 2024, having served for 35 years, and also attained the age of 60.”
According to him: “The straightforward solution is to retire and allow others to rise through the ranks.”
