PSC Orders Immediate Retirement Of Police Officers Above 60, 35 Years In Service
The Police Service Commission (PSC) has directed the immediate retirement of senior police officers who have either exceeded 35 years in service or attained the age of 60, in accordance with civil service regulations.
The decision, announced after an extraordinary meeting of the commission, comes amid growing calls for the retirement of Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun, following the extension of his tenure beyond the traditional retirement age.
In a statement released by PSC spokesperson Ikechukwu Ani, the commission said it had revisited and reversed a 2017 policy that allowed officers to count their date of enlistment rather than their official appointment date in the force.
According to the PSC, this contradicted public service regulations, which clearly stipulate that officers must retire after 35 years of service or upon reaching 60 years of age, whichever comes first.
“The commission has come to the conclusion that the 2017 decision violated Public Service Rule No. 020908 (i & ii), which mandates retirement upon completing 35 years of service or reaching 60 years of age,” the statement read.
The PSC confirmed that the decision has been communicated to IGP Kayode Egbetokun for immediate implementation, signaling an impending wave of retirements across the force.
Egbetokun, who was appointed Inspector General of Police in June 2023 by President Bola Tinubu, was due for retirement in September 2024 upon turning 60. However, the National Assembly in July 2024 passed a bill allowing him to remain in office until the end of his four-year term as stipulated in his appointment letter.
Despite mounting pressure from some quarters for his retirement in line with the Police Act 2020, the Federal Government has defended his continued stay, insisting that it remains legally valid under the revised law.
As the implementation of the PSC directive unfolds, attention will now turn to the potential impact on police leadership and whether it will influence the debate surrounding Egbetokun’s tenure.