From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) has raised alarm regarding the deepening institutional crisis between the Police Service Commission (PSC) and the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), emphasising the threat it poses to the rule of law and public trust.
Executive Director of CISLAC, Auwal Ibrahim Rafsanjani, in a statement, said the centre is advocating for immediate compliance with public service rules and a swift legislative review to address the issues.
“This crisis threatens the rule of law, undermines accountability, and erodes public trust in Nigeria’s governance and security institutions,” he stated.
CISLAC, Rafsanjani said is emphasising the statutory authority of the PSC, which is mandated by the Police Service Commission (Establishment) Act of 2001 to appoint, promote, dismiss, and exercise disciplinary control over NPF personnel, excluding the Inspector General of Police. This mandate is further reinforced by the 1999 Constitution.
Rafsanjani condemned the Inspector General of Police, (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun for instructing senior officers who have reached the mandatory retirement threshold to remain in service, calling it a “clear violation of the PSC’s statutory authority” that “undermines the principle of separation of powers, and fosters unnecessary institutional conflicts”.
CISLAC also criticised the amendment to the 2020 Police Act, which grants the IGP a fixed four-year tenure regardless of age or service years. “This amendment contradicts existing public service regulations and was hastily passed without a clear constitutional or legal framework to resolve tenure disputes. It has led to arbitrary extensions of office tenure for selected officers,” Rafsanjani stated.
Drawing a historical parallel, Rafsanjani likened the situation to past political maneuvers: “This situation echoes past political attempts such as former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s unsuccessful third-term bid, which the National Assembly rightly rejected in defense of democratic principles.
Legislative processes should safeguard the rule of law and national stability rather than serve individual interests”.
CISLAC insists that the IGP must respect the PSC’s constitutional authority by ensuring the prompt retirement of officers who have reached the statutory retirement age or service limit. The centre has therefore, called on the National Assembly to amend the Police Act to clarify tenure limitations and prevent conflicts with existing service regulations.
Rafsanjani called for intervention at the highest levels of government: “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu must intervene to uphold adherence to existing laws and prevent the politicization of Nigeria’s security institutions. The Judiciary must also provide legal clarity on the extent of the IGP’s tenure under the amended Police Act, ensuring compliance with public service regulations”.
CISLAC has urged all stakeholders to unite against the abuse of power, emphasizing that “allowing tenure manipulation and institutional conflicts to persist will undermine the credibility of Nigeria’s security agencies and promote impunity in governance”.
“CISLAC remains steadfast in its commitment to promoting transparent governance, upholding the rule of law, and safeguarding the independence of oversight institutions in Nigeria,” the statement concluded.