A fresh dispute over promotion in the Nigeria Police Force has exposed growing concerns about administrative inconsistencies, seniority, and career progression among officers in several state commands. Officers in Oyo, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, and Cross River states have been affected by alleged omissions from a recent general promotion exercise. Some personnel are questioning how colleagues recruited in the same intake have been promoted while they remain on their previous ranks.
The dispute has created confusion over seniority among officers and triggered a confrontation between two personnel from different commands. An officer from Cross River State who was promoted to Corporal demanded that a colleague from Oyo State salute him, despite the Oyo-based officer having a senior force number. The disagreement escalated into an argument, with civilians eventually intervening. This incident has raised questions about how administrative discrepancies are affecting discipline and the established system of rank and seniority within the force.
According to an officer familiar with the process, state commands were asked to submit the names and details of eligible personnel, including phone numbers, before the promotion list was released. However, when the list was published, officers from some commands were reportedly missing. The affected personnel had initially expected a supplementary list to be released, but no correction had been made months after the exercise.
The situation has created an unusual seniority problem, with some personnel now junior in rank despite having earlier joined the force than colleagues who were promoted. One officer said, “We don’t really know where it hanged and who is responsible for the situation why our juniors from different states are now our seniors.” The officers are seeking a review of the promotion exercise to determine whether eligible personnel were inadvertently omitted.
This is not the first time concerns have been raised about promotion and career stagnation within the force. In August, SaharaReporters reported that 1991 officers were protesting alleged delays in their promotion, with affected personnel claiming they had remained at the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police despite being due for advancement to Deputy Superintendent of Police since 2024.
The current allegations echo concerns raised in an earlier report over the exclusion of officers attached to Oyo and Akwa Ibom commands from the general promotion exercise. Personnel alleged that some commands had been left out entirely, with officers in those formations receiving no promotions while personnel in other commands were elevated. The affected officers are seeking transparency, fairness, and a proper review of the promotion exercise.
The allegations raise questions about the procedures used to compile and approve the recent promotion list. It is unclear whether the omissions resulted from administrative errors, delays in processing submissions, or another factor. SaharaReporters' attempts to obtain clarification from the Nigeria Police Force and the Police Service Commission were unsuccessful. The impact of delayed promotions could have financial and retirement implications for officers.
Key points
- Officers in several states are protesting alleged omissions from a recent promotion exercise in the Nigeria Police Force.
- The dispute has created confusion over seniority among officers and triggered confrontations between personnel from different commands.
- The allegations raise questions about the procedures used to compile and approve the recent promotion list.
