Contrary to the decision of the Police Service Commission ordering the immediate retirement of senior police officers who have either exceeded 35 years in service or are above 60, inspector general of police Kayode Egbetokun has ordered concerned officers to stay in office.

Mr Egbetokun, in a document obtained by Peoples Gazette Wednesday evening, countered the order, asking all the police-related departments to stay action pending further directive.

“RE: Police Service Commission decision at its 1st extraordinary meeting of the 6th management board on the regularization of first appointment of cadet ASPs /Inspectors force entrants ref. Mylet No CH:8400/FS/FHQ/ABJ/VOL2/292 dated 1st February 2025 X Inspector General of Police strongly directs you stay action on let under ref pending further directive above for your strict compliance acknowledge receipt please,” said the document dated February 5, 2025.

Last week, PSC’s spokesman, Ikechukwu Ani, in a statement, said the commission’s order followed its review of 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.

Mr Ani noted the commission has reversed this decision, citing its inconsistency with Public Service Rule No. 020908 (i & ii), which mandates retirement upon spending 35 years in service or reaching 60 years of age.

The PSC, however, clarified that it lacks the constitutional authority to determine the appointment or retirement of Mr Egbetokun.

If allowed to stay, Mr Egbetokun’s latest counter-order invalidates PSC’s statutory responsibility to appoint, promote and dismiss police officers in line with its Establishment Act.

Mr Egbetokun’s continued stay in office as Inspector General has generated heated controversies in the country, with Nigerians saying it is at variance with extant laws.

Human rights activist Omoyele Sowore was dragged to court for calling Mr Egbetokun illegal as the Force argued that the appointment of IGP and his extension of tenure was constitutional.

Mr Egbetokun — born September 1964 and clocked 60 last September — was enlisted into the Force in 1990 and appointed the Inspector General by President Bola Tinubu in June 2023.