Aggrieved Police Officers Petition IGP Over Stalled Promotions
More than 440 officers of the Nigeria Police Force have decried the stagnation of their career advancement, describing it as an injustice and a blow to their morale.
The affected officers, drawn from Cadet Inspector Courses 40 and 41 of 2012, have petitioned the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and the Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), seeking an urgent review of their promotion status.
In a petition dated March 25, 2025, submitted through human rights lawyer Femi Adedeji of Falana & Falana’s Chambers, the officers demanded a backdating of their promotion to 2018 on compassionate grounds.
“Our clients have remained at the Assistant Superintendent of Police II (ASP II) rank with just one promotion since 2012, while their counterparts have advanced,” the petition reads.
The officers were trained at the Nigeria Police Academy (POLAC), Wudil, Kano, alongside colleagues from Cadet ASP Courses 25 and 26. However, while the ASP course members have risen to the rank of Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), the cadet inspectors remain stuck.
The petition noted that the affected officers completed their Departmental Selection Board (DSB) between December 2 and 16, 2019, yet Regular Course 2 members were promoted ahead of them.
“This has created a serious imbalance in equity and seniority,” Adedeji said, noting that some officers who were previously junior have now surpassed them.
The petition added that Regular Course 2 officers were promoted to Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) in December 2024, while the cadet inspectors were left out entirely.
“This situation has made our clients wonder if being a Cadet Inspector is a ‘curse’ rather than a ‘course,’” the letter stated.
Despite their grievances, the officers commended the IGP for efforts in improving police welfare and promoting officers recruited before 2020. They expressed optimism that their own case would receive equal attention.
They urged the authorities to adjust their promotion date to 2018, saying it would correct structural imbalances and improve morale within the Force.
The petition concluded with a plea for the IGP and PSC chair to restore dignity to the affected officers and place them in their rightful positions.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
