CISLAC Urges Compliance with Public Service Rules in Police Leadership
The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) has expressed deep concern over the ongoing institutional crisis between the Police Service Commission (PSC) and the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), warning that the dispute threatens the rule of law, weakens accountability, and erodes public trust in Nigeria’s governance and security institutions.
In a statement, Auwal Ibrahim Musa (Rafsanjani), Executive Director of CISLAC, reaffirmed the statutory authority of the PSC as enshrined in Sections 6 and 7 of the Police Service Commission (Establishment) Act, 2001. The law empowers the PSC to appoint, promote, dismiss, and exercise disciplinary control over police personnel, excluding the Inspector General of Police (IGP). This mandate is further supported by Paragraph 30 of Part 1 of the Third Schedule to the 1999 Constitution, which grants the PSC oversight on police appointments and discipline.
Rafsanjani underscored the importance of Public Service Rule No. 020908 (i & ii), which mandates the compulsory retirement of public officers, including senior police officers, upon completing 35 years of service or reaching the age of 60. “This regulation is designed to uphold the integrity and efficiency of security institutions by ensuring leadership renewal and preventing tenure manipulation,” he stated.
CISLAC strongly condemned the alleged directive by the IGP instructing senior officers who have reached the retirement threshold to remain in service pending further directives. Rafsanjani described this as a blatant violation of the PSC’s statutory authority, adding that it undermines the principle of separation of powers and fosters unnecessary institutional conflicts.
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He also criticized the amendment to the 2020 Police Act, which grants the IGP a fixed four-year tenure regardless of age or service years. “This amendment contradicts existing public service regulations and was hastily passed without a clear constitutional or legal framework to resolve tenure disputes,” he said. “It has led to arbitrary extensions of office tenure for selected officers, creating confusion and institutional instability.”
Drawing a historical parallel, Rafsanjani compared the current situation to past political maneuvers, such as former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s unsuccessful third-term bid. “The National Assembly rightly rejected that attempt in defense of democratic principles. Legislative processes should protect the rule of law and national stability rather than serve individual interests,” he asserted.
CISLAC called on the Inspector General of Police to respect the PSC’s constitutional authority and ensure the immediate retirement of officers who have reached the statutory age or service limit. The organization also urged the National Assembly to amend the Police Act to clarify tenure limitations and prevent future conflicts with established service regulations.
The advocacy group appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene to ensure strict adherence to existing laws and prevent the politicization of Nigeria’s security institutions. Rafsanjani further called on the Judiciary to provide legal clarity on the extent of the IGP’s tenure under the amended Police Act, ensuring compliance with public service regulations.
“Democracy thrives on the rule of law, transparency, and accountability—principles that must remain non-negotiable,” Rafsanjani stressed. “Allowing tenure manipulation and institutional conflicts to persist will undermine the credibility of Nigeria’s security agencies and promote impunity in governance.”
For the sake of national security and democratic stability, CISLAC urged civil society, the media, and the general public to unite against the abuse of legislative and executive powers that threaten institutional integrity.
“CISLAC remains steadfast in its commitment to promoting transparent governance, upholding the rule of law, and safeguarding the independence of oversight institutions in Nigeria,” the statement concluded.
The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) is a non-governmental organization dedicated to strengthening legislative and governance processes in Nigeria through advocacy, research, and policy engagement.
By PRNigeria
