The Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Customs Service, and Nigeria Immigration Service have been weakened by the Presidency's interference in career progression. Tens of high-ranking officers have been compulsorily retired before or after attaining the mandatory 60 years of age and 35 years in service. This has resulted in competent officers being forced into premature retirement due to stagnation, political interference, favouritism, and nepotism.
Under former President Muhammadu Buhari and President Bola Tinubu, deputy inspectors general of Police and deputy comptroller-general on Immigration and customs have been retired. The tenures of the Comptroller-General of NCS, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi; Comptroller-General of NIS, Kemi Nanna Nandap; and the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Kayode Egbetokun, were extended. This has forced many officers who would have succeeded them into stagnation or retirement.
According to the law, heads of these agencies retire when they attain the mandatory retirement age of 60 years or reach 35 years in service. This allows their deputies to succeed them. However, successive presidents have altered this rule, causing senior officers to leave the service without reaching the peak of their careers.
When people join a service, they expect to rise through the ranks and eventually reach the peak of their careers. Refusing to allow those who have attained the mandatory age to retire undermines progression, particularly when competent officers are waiting to advance. This can breed frustration and weaken morale among officers who see limited opportunities for advancement despite years of service.
These officers could have been left to retire and later be considered for other strategic positions, without obstructing the career progression of those coming behind them. The agencies need to be strengthened by creating opportunities for career progression, not weakened by decisions that undermine their institutional structure.
The truncation of career progression within these services should be discouraged, and motivation needs to be encouraged. The current situation has resulted in a lack of opportunities for advancement, leading to frustration and weakened morale among officers.
To address this issue, the government needs to allow for the natural progression of careers within these agencies, based on merit and years of service. This will help to strengthen the agencies and encourage officers to serve with dedication and commitment.
Key points
- The Presidency's interference in career progression has weakened key paramilitary agencies.
- The truncation of career progression has resulted in competent officers being forced into premature retirement.
- The government needs to allow for natural progression of careers within these agencies, based on merit and years of service.
