The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Olukayode Adeolu Egbetokun has ordered police officers that have exceeded statutory age or service to tender their retirement letters from the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) with immediate effect.
This was contained in a police signal from the office of the Inspector-General of Police over the weekend.
According to the signal, a disturbing trend has been observed that policemen who have attained 60 years of age or 35 years in service refused to quit.
News Band had reported on November 7, 2023, that Dr. George D. Davidson, a whistleblower with the Save the Soul Transparency and Eagle Eye International Foundation, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) was thrown into Kuje prison in Abuja for investigating age racketeering in the Police Force.
In a letter dated 24th July, 2023, with reference number CB4099/IGPSEC/MU/T.4/ADM/ABJ/VOL 22/114, the NGO petitioned the Office of the Inspector General of Police over age racketeering involving CSP James Idachaba, the OC Legal of the FCT Command of Nigeria Police.
In its conclusion, the Office of the Inspector General found that the accused falsified his records of service in order to gain undue advantage by remaining in service beyond the stipulated years for retirement as provided by Public Service Rule Section 020810 (1) and (ii) that either 35 years of service or 60 years of age whichever one comes first.
The report also confirmed that ldachaba is now 68 years of age and has served for 48 years in the Force and has outlived his years of service by age having attained the age of 60 years since 2015 i.e. 8 years after his cadet training in the year 2000.
The Inspector General, therefore, recommended disciplinary action against the officer and that all his records with the Force relating to his age and date of enlistment as a Constable be amended accordingly.
Following the development, IGP Egbetokun ordered police formations and commands to extract a letter of retirement from police officers who are due for retirement but have refused to proceed on retirement.
He noted that in line with the provisions of the public service rule (PSR) 020810 i & ii, “the mandatory retirement age for all grades in the service shall be 60 years or 35 years of pensionable service”.
He directed that no officer shall be allowed to remain in service after attaining the retirement of 60 years or 35 years of pensionable service whichever is earlier, adding that all actions taken by the said officers for the Nigeria police are null and void as a result of expiration of service duration.
Finally, Egbetokun ordered the responsible officers to immediately extract a letter of voluntary retirement from such officers.
