Tinubu Halts Planned Retirement of 30 Senior Police Officers After Disu’s Appointment — Report

President Bola Tinubu has halted the planned compulsory retirement of about 30 senior officers of the Nigeria Police Force following the appointment of Tunji Disu as Acting Inspector-General of Police.

The decision comes days after the removal of Kayode Egbetokun as IGP and his handover to Disu. Senior officers, including several Deputy Inspectors General (DIGs) and Assistant Inspectors General (AIGs), had been listed for retirement in line with a long-standing practice that often follows the appointment of a new police chief.

Sources familiar with the development said the Police Service Commission had compiled a list of approximately 30 officers expected to exit the Force to preserve command hierarchy after the leadership change. Among those reportedly affected were eight DIGs overseeing key departments such as finance, logistics, information and communication technology, and training.

However, the Presidency intervened and directed that the retirement process be suspended. A source said the move was intended to ensure continuity and allow the acting IGP to work with experienced senior officers during the transition.

The development has revived debate over the practice of compulsory retirement when a junior officer is elevated above more senior colleagues. Critics argue that the approach conflicts with statutory provisions governing public service retirement and weakens institutional stability.

Disu, born on April 13, 1966, in Lagos State, was promoted to Assistant Inspector-General on March 6, 2025. He is scheduled to retire on April 13, 2026, upon attaining the mandatory retirement age of 60. Although the amended Police Act provides a four-year tenure for an Inspector-General of Police regardless of age, sources indicate that there are efforts to ensure Disu retires on his statutory date rather than serving an extended term.

The controversy over forced retirements intensified after the 2023 case involving DIG Moses Ambakina Jitoboh, who was compulsorily retired following Egbetokun’s appointment. Jitoboh challenged the decision at the National Industrial Court, arguing that he had neither reached the retirement age of 60 nor completed 35 years of service.

In January 2025, the court ruled that the Police Service Commission lacked the authority to retire him before he met the statutory requirements, declaring the action unlawful and unconstitutional. The court ordered the payment of outstanding salaries and awarded damages. Jitoboh died in December 2024, shortly before the judgment was delivered.

Observers say the Presidency’s latest intervention signals caution in applying the controversial retirement practice and may influence how future leadership transitions within the Nigeria Police Force are handled.