Monday August 3, 2026
www.thenewsdesk.ng
The Nigeria Police Force has ordered the reinstatement of 475 officers who were previously retired over the controversial “merger of service” policy, directing them to report for a compulsory six-month induction programme at the Police Staff College, Jos, following a court ruling that nullified their retirement.
According to a report by Sahara Reporters, the directive was conveyed in a confidential letter dated July 31, 2026, signed by the Force Secretary, Assistant Inspector-General of Police Bode Akinbamilowo, on behalf of the Inspector-General of Police. The communication was addressed to Assistant Inspectors-General across the 17 police zones, Commissioners of Police in all states and the Commandant of the Police Staff College, Jos.
According to the letter, the Police Service Commission (PSC), at its plenary meeting held on June 25, 2026, approved the regularisation of the affected officers’ dates of first appointment after the National Industrial Court reversed their compulsory retirement.
The officers had initially been retired following a PSC decision reached during its First Extraordinary Meeting of January 31, 2025, on the merger of service. However, the decision was overturned in compliance with the judgment delivered in Suit No. NICN/ABJ/28/2025.
The Force Secretary instructed all zonal commands and state police commissioners to ensure that the affected officers are contacted and directed to report to the Police Staff College for the mandatory training programme.
He further instructed them to “locate and warn” the officers to report for the induction course.
Those affected span several recruitment and promotion courses conducted between 1992 and 2012 and include officers from the rank of Superintendent of Police (SP) up to Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG). Among the senior officers listed are AIG Idowu Owohunwa, AIG Benneth Chinedu Igwe, AIG Uche Ifeanyi Henry and Deputy Commissioner of Police Simon Asamber Lough.
The induction programme has been scheduled in two phases. Documentation and arrival will take place between August 1 and August 16, 2026, while the six-month training will run from August 17, 2026, to February 16, 2027.
The Inspector-General also directed the Commandant of the Police Staff College to submit the list of all documented participants on or before August 24, 2026, stressing that “lateness will not be tolerated.”
Copies of the directive were circulated to the IGP’s Secretariat and the Deputy Inspectors-General overseeing Finance and Administration, Operations, Logistics and Supply, Investigation, Training and Development, Research and Planning, Information and Communication Technology, Intelligence, as well as the Assistant Inspector-General in charge of Police Accounts and Budget to ensure the smooth implementation of the induction exercise.
The list also includes several other senior officers across different cadres, with official records indicating their ages, dates of appointment and revised retirement timelines following the court-ordered reinstatement.
(SAHARA REPORTERS)
