Former IGs advocate 65 years retirement age for Police personnel

The Committee of Retired Inspectors-General of Police has proposed that the retirement age for police personnel be raised to 65 years and the tenure of service to 40 years. This proposal emerged from the resolutions of the former Inspectors-General at the conclusion of their two-day retreat, held at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in Ibadan on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The outcomes of the retreat were documented in a seven-point communique issued on Thursday in Ibadan by retired I-G Solomon Arase, who currently chairs the Police Service Commission (PSC).

During the retreat, themed “Intervention of former I-Gs for strategic contribution to effective policing in Nigeria,” former police leaders engaged in discussions to revitalize the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to enhance its effectiveness, significance, and strategic input within the nation’s competitive security environment.

The main resolutions include the following points:

1. Reforms and Policy Matters
2. Recruitment and Deployment of Police Personnel
3. Safety and Welfare
4. Strategic Partnership
5. Training and Capacity Development
6. Police Operations
7. Police Operations

The communique highlights the necessity to reconsider retirement age and service tenure. The proposal is to extend the retirement age from 60 to 65 years and the service tenure from 35 to 40 years, whichever comes first.

Additionally, the committee suggested that understaffed and underequipped divisional police headquarters across the country should be adequately resourced to perform their statutory duties effectively. Furthermore, due to manpower shortages, the committee recommended the promotion of junior police officers with higher educational qualifications to the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP).

To ensure a consistent recruitment process and avoid sporadic approval requests, the committee called for the institutionalization of police recruitment in the NPF’s annual budget proposals. They also emphasized the need to re-evaluate the significant number of police personnel assigned to Very Important Persons (VIPs) and politicians, suggesting that this re-evaluation would enable a broader coverage of personnel within the core areas of police duties.

The committee stressed the importance of the NPF’s constitutional and statutory role in internal security management, advocating for the NPF to regain effective control over these responsibilities.

In terms of safety and welfare, the committee urged the Federal Government to prioritize funding for the NPF amid competing financial demands. They also suggested promoting a modern policing approach that emphasizes strong police-civilian relations and recommends accommodating Mobile Police Force personnel in well-equipped barracks.

Addressing pension concerns, the committee implored President Bola Tinubu to approve the Pension Bill to remove the Nigeria Police from the contributory pension scheme. This move aims to enhance the welfare of retired officers and motivate current personnel.

The committee also called for the implementation of the White Paper on the Police Reform Reports (Danmadami and M.D Yusuf reports) to optimize the NPF’s performance.

In terms of strategic partnership, the committee emphasized the importance of harmonious relations between the NPF and the Police Service Commission (PSC). They recommended inter-agency collaboration with sister agencies through joint training programs and intelligence-sharing to effectively combat modern crimes.

The committee concluded by suggesting that the NPF should receive support from the Federal Government to upgrade logistical assets and intelligence-sharing technology. They also urged the initiation of the Police Intelligence School in Share, Kwara.

The retreat, spearheaded by retired I-G Aliyu Attah and facilitated by PSC Chairman Solomon Arase, was sponsored by the Oyo State Government. Participants included seven retired I-Gs: Ogbonnaya Onovo, Hafiz Ringim, Mike Okiro, Sunday Ehindero, Ibrahim Idris, Arase, and Attah. Other attendees included the General Secretary of the Association of Retired Police Officers, Sunday Chukwura, and Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG) South-West, Abiodun Alabi.