The Police Service Commission has tightened rules guiding career progression in the Nigeria Police Force, declaring that senior officers who fail promotion examinations three times will be retired from service.
The Commission’s Chairman, retired Deputy Inspector General of Police, Hashimu Argungu, disclosed this in Abuja on Monday during a compulsory promotion test for 30 senior officers.
Those who sat for the exercise included one Assistant Inspector General of Police, two Commissioners of Police, 11 Deputy Commissioners, and 16 Assistant Commissioners.
Argungu explained that the new policy was introduced to raise standards within the Force and strengthen public confidence in policing.
“This examination is here to stay,” he said. “Any officer who fails it three times will have to go home. We cannot continue to carry people who are not competent.”
The PSC boss stressed that the Commission was determined to ensure merit-based promotions, adding that the world had become “a skill-driven era” where officers must demonstrate capacity to advance in rank.
“If our officers want to rise, they must be ready to show capacity. Otherwise, we cannot justify promoting them,” he added.
Argungu also revealed that measures were being put in place to eliminate irregularities that had plagued promotion lists in the past.
“We are paying attention to details. No dead or retired officer should ever appear on a promotion list again,” he assured.
Other commissioners of the PSC, including retired Supreme Court Justice Paul Adamu Galumje and retired DIG Taiwo Lakanu, were present at the examination session.
