The Police Service Commission (PSC) and the Nigeria Police Force are mulling over the possibility of extending the retirement age for police officers to either 65 years or after 40 years of service. This initiative comes in response to the retirement of numerous experienced officers, impacting the overall efficiency of the force.
The Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Solomon Arase, presented several recommendations, including the retirement age extension, to the Inspector-General of Police, Kehinde Egbetokun. These proposals are part of a broader plan to reform and professionalize the Nigeria Police Force under the Nigeria Police Force Scheme of Service.
One significant recommendation involves the potential easing out of junior officers in the inspectorate cadre unless they acquire additional academic qualifications. If approved, officers affected by this policy would not be promoted beyond the rank of Chief Superintendent.
The recommendations also address the promotion of non-graduates, suggesting that they should not be elevated to the Senior Police Officer (SPO) cadre. Furthermore, the proposed scheme of service would encompass traffic warden personnel as a specialized arm of the force.
The concept of general duty may also be abolished or limited to a specific number of years after initial entry, allowing new recruits to develop skills and gain relevant experience before progressing into specialized areas.
Explaining the rationale behind extending the service tenure to 65 years, the spokesman for the Police Service Commission, Ikechukwu Ani, emphasized the importance of retaining seasoned officers to preserve institutional memory within the force.
The Committee of Retired Inspectors-General of Police has already endorsed these reform plans during their retreat in August. They advocated for a retirement age of 65 and a tenure of service of 40 years, whichever comes first.
In addition to the age-related proposals, the committee emphasized the need to adequately staff and equip divisional police headquarters across the country. They also called for the recruitment of graduates, professionals, and technicians to address personnel shortages and urged the government to prioritize funding for the Nigeria Police Force amid competing demands.
The proposals underscore the broader effort to enhance the professionalism, efficiency, and strategic impact of the Nigeria Police Force in addressing the nation’s evolving security challenges.