PSC bans special promotions in Nigeria Police Force

Retired Deputy Inspector General Hashimu Argungu, Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), announced yesterday that the commission will no longer endorse irregular promotion practices within the Nigeria Police Force.

He stressed that future promotions will be based solely on merit, requiring officers to pass specific examinations and meet other standard criteria.

Argungu clarified that the concept of “special promotion” is not recognized internationally and affirmed that under his leadership, the commission will not support such practices. He made this clear during a meeting with the executive members of the Association of Retired Police Officers of Nigeria, reiterating that special promotions within the force have been officially abolished.

“The law allows for accelerated promotion for officers who have demonstrated exceptional skill in their duties, but this will be handled cautiously to avoid abuse,” Argungu stated. He explained that promotions will now depend on merit, involving both written exams and interviews. Seniority alone will no longer be a guarantee for advancement.

Officers who fail the promotion exam will remain at their current rank, and those who fail three times will be retired at that level for incompetence. “Promotion will now be on merit, and there will be written examinations and interviews. Seniority is now irrelevant in modern policing, and any officer who fails the promotion exam will stay at their rank. Failure to advance after three attempts will result in retirement for incompetence,” Argungu added.

He encouraged retired police officers to support this new approach, noting that their experience could be very valuable. Proud of his service and retirement as a Deputy Inspector General, Argungu reaffirmed his commitment to maintaining the integrity of the force. “A policeman should be above suspicion and always put the country first. If I had to come back after death, I would still choose to be a policeman,” Argungu concluded.