Following various reports that that Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun has been ordered go proceed on retirement, the Police Service Commission has issued a statement.
The spokesperson for the commission, Ikechukwu Ani on Monday, February 3, debunked claims that the PSC directed the IGP to retire from service.
On Friday, the PSC ordered that all officers over 60 years old and those have served for more than 35 years should proceed on immediate retirement.
However, clarifying the order by the PSC, Ani said the IGP was not affected by the directive given by the commission.
He said that the PSC has been inundated with calls and messages on whether the IGP was affected by the new directive or not.
Stating that the retirement order given by the PSC in the past week 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.
He said, “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.
Ani explained that the IG is a presidential appointee, chosen based on the advice of the Police Council.
The commission wishes to state that it is comfortable with the size of the powers bestowed upon it by the constitution and is not interested in seeking additional powers that are not backed by law.
“It notes that it has maintained a close and complementary working relationship with the Inspector-General of Police in the overall interest of the Nigeria Police Force,” Ani noted.
