The Nigeria Police Force has directed 475 officers whose compulsory retirements were overturned by the National Industrial Court to report for a mandatory six-month induction course at the Police Staff College, Jos, as part of the implementation of the court’s judgment.
The directive was contained in a confidential letter dated July 31, 2026, signed by the Force Secretary, AIG Bode Akinbamilowo, and addressed to Assistant Inspectors-General of Police in the Force’s 17 zonal commands, Commissioners of Police in all state commands, and the Commandant of the Police Staff College, Jos.
According to the document, the directive follows the decision of the Police Service Commission (PSC) at its plenary meeting of June 25, 2026, which approved the regularisation of the affected officers’ dates of first appointment after the National Industrial Court nullified their compulsory retirements.
The officers were among those retired following the PSC’s decision at its First Extraordinary Meeting on January 31, 2025, over the controversial merger of service policy. However, the retirements were reversed in compliance with the judgment of the National Industrial Court in Suit No. NICN/ABJ/28/2025.
Acting on behalf of the Inspector-General of Police, Akinbamilowo directed all zonal commands and Commissioners of Police to identify the affected officers within their jurisdictions and ensure they report to the Police Staff College, Jos, for the compulsory induction programme.
The affected personnel span entry courses from 1992 to 2012 and include officers from the rank of Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) to Superintendent of Police (SP).
Among the senior officers listed are AIG Idowu Owohunwa, AIG Benneth Chinedu Igwe, AIG Uche Ifeanyi Henry, and Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Simon Asamber Lough.
The document indicates that AIG Owohunwa, appointed on August 15, 1996, is due for retirement by age on July 20, 2030, while AIG Igwe is expected to retire on October 7, 2028. DCP Lough’s retirement by age is scheduled for May 14, 2029.
According to the directive, documentation and arrival for the induction programme will take place between August 1 and August 16, 2026, while the six-month training is scheduled to 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 documented participants on or before August 24, 2026, warning that late reporting would not be entertained.
Copies of the directive were forwarded to the IGP’s Secretariat, all Deputy Inspectors-General of Police 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, with instructions to ensure the smooth implementation of the induction exercise.
Other officers listed include AIG Joseph O. Eribo, Commissioner of Police Fidelis Ndubuisi Ogarabe, DCP Akinbayo Olasukami Olasoji, DCP Louis Chike Nwabuwa, ACP Benjamin Okehielam Okwara, CSP Sanusi Amiru, CSP Grace Idowu Agboola, CSP Oluwadare Ezekiel Ayeni, CSP Angela Agabe, CSP Rita A.A. Inoma-Abbey, PhD, SP Kayode Ayo Aborishade, and SP Olasukanmi Lateef Olujide, among others.
The document also shows that several of the reinstated officers are approaching their statutory retirement age, with some expected to retire between late 2026 and 2028, despite being required to complete the mandatory six-month induction programme following their reinstatement.
