By Adesakin Adefemi
A significant leadership restructuring may soon occur within the Nigeria Police Force as several Deputy Inspectors-General (DIGs) are reportedly facing compulsory retirement following the appointment of Tunji Disu as the Inspector-General of Police (IGP).
The development coincides with a scheduled promotion interview by the Police Service Commission (PSC) for seven Assistant Inspectors-General of Police (AIGs) seeking elevation to the rank of Deputy Inspector-General. The interactive promotion examination is slated for Friday, March 6, 2026, at 9:00 a.m.
The interview will be conducted at the Chairman’s Conference Room on the 6th Floor of the PSC Corporate Headquarters located at Plot 64, Cadastral Zone, Jabi. The officers invited to participate in the promotion exercise include AIG Zacharia Fera Achinyan, AIG Zango Ibrahim Baba, AIG Isyaku Mohammed, AIG Margaret Agebe Ochalla, AIG Mohammed Abdul Sulaiman, AIG Kenechukwu Onwuemelie, and AIG Umar Shehu Nadada.
The internal directive, issued on behalf of the Inspector-General of Police, instructed the officers to attend the session as scheduled and advised them to refresh their knowledge in key areas of policing, including professional studies, relevant legal frameworks, and local police regulations.
The officers were also directed to appear in official conventional attire comprising a black jacket, beret, and swagger cane. The promotion exercise forms part of the routine career advancement process within the police hierarchy and is conducted in collaboration with the PSC, the constitutional body responsible for the appointment, promotion, and discipline of senior officers of the force.
Sources within the force indicate that the uncertainty surrounding the tenure of several serving DIGs has intensified internal lobbying, with some senior officers reportedly seeking to retain their positions despite the expected leadership adjustments. At least eight serving DIGs may be affected by the anticipated restructuring aimed at preserving the command structure of the force.
The unfolding developments have once again brought national attention to the longstanding practice of compulsory retirement of senior officers whenever a new Inspector-General assumes office. Observers say the outcome of the promotion interviews and subsequent decisions by the authorities will ultimately determine the future composition of the Nigeria Police high command in the coming weeks.
Tunji Disu, who was recently appointed as IGP, was originally scheduled to retire on April 13, 2026, upon attaining the mandatory retirement age of 60. However, provisions in the amended Police Act permit an Inspector-General of Police to serve a fixed four-year tenure, regardless of age or years of service, potentially allowing him to remain in office until 2030.
