By Abiola Olawale
The Police Service Commission has denied reports making rounds that it has directed the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, to proceed on retirement.
A statement issued by the spokesperson for the commission, Ikechukwu Ani on Monday, February 3, clarified that the commission has no constitutional right to direct the IGP to retire from service.
The New Diplomat reports that on Friday, the PSC ordered that all officers over 60 years old and those who have served for more than 35 years should proceed on immediate retirement.
Following the announcement, there have been speculations that Egbetokun might be part of the officers PSC has directed to proceed on retirement.
However, clarifying the order by the PSC, Ani said the IGP was not affected by the directive given by the commission.
While maintaining that the retirement order given by the PSC was in line with the provisions of Nigeria’s extant laws, Ani said the commission does not have the constitutional powers to appoint or determine the exit of an IGP.
The statement reads in part: “The Police Service Commission is one of the Federal Executive Bodies established under Section 153(m) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended. 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).”
According to him, the constitution saddles the responsibility of appointing or sacking an IGP on the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
He said the IGP is an appointee of the President and is selected based on the advice of the nation’s police council.
