The Police Service Commission (PSC) has stated that it lacks constitutional authority to determine the appointment or removal of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP).
This clarification follows the commission’s recent directive for all police officers who have served for 35 years or reached the age of 60 to retire immediately, following existing laws.
The directive has sparked public debate, with some commentators arguing that it should also apply to the IGP. However, the PSC has emphasized that its mandate does not extend to deciding the IGP’s tenure.
However, Ikechukwu Ani, Head, Press and Public Relations of the PSC, in a statement on Monday, said,
“By virtue of Paragraph 30, part 1 of the third schedule to the Constitution, and clause 6 (1) of the Police Service Commission (Establishment) Act, 2001, the Commission is charged with the responsibilities of appointment, promotion, dismissal and exercising disciplinary control over persons holding offices in the Nigeria Police Force (except the Inspector General of Police).
“The law is clear on the mandate of the Commission and it does not extend to the Inspector General of Police who is an appointee of Mr. President with the advice of the Police Council.
“The Commission at its 1st Extraordinary Meeting of the 6th Management Board on Friday 31st January 2025, only considered and took decision on the regularisation of the date of the First appointment of CADET ASPs/Inspector Force Entrants. This has nothing to do with the Inspector General of Police or his office.
“The Commission wishes to state that it is comfortable with the size of the powers which the Constitution has bestowed on it and is not interested in shopping for more powers that obviously are not backed by law.”
The commission further reiterated its commitment to maintaining a cooperative and complementary working relationship with the Inspector-General of Police in the best interest of the Nigeria Police Force.
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cc: Daily Post Ng
