President Bola Tinubu has stopped the planned retirement of about 30 senior police officers after the leadership change at the Nigeria Police Force, a move that has revived debate over compulsory exits for top officials.
The intervention followed the removal of former Inspector-General Kayode Egbetokun and the appointment of acting IGP Tunji Disu. Sources said the presidency halted the shake-up to allow the new chief retain experienced officers.
An internal list had named several Deputy Inspectors General and Assistant Inspectors General marked for retirement to maintain command structure. Among those reportedly affected were Yahaya Abubakar, Adebola Hamzat, Adebowale Williams and Frank Mba.
A presidency source said the decision aimed to ensure stability within the force during the transition. The source added that the acting IGP needs senior officers with institutional knowledge to manage operations.
Disu’s appointment has drawn attention because it came less than two months before his mandatory retirement at age 60. Born 13 April 1966, he is due to retire in April 2026. He was promoted to Assistant Inspector-General in March 2025.
Under the amended Police Act, an Inspector-General may serve a four-year term regardless of age. That rule allowed Egbetokun to remain in office despite reaching retirement age. However, officials say current discussions suggest Disu may still leave when he turns 60.
The Police Service Commission had prepared a retirement list before it received instructions to suspend the process. The halt has raised expectations among senior officers who feared they would be forced out.
Changes in police leadership often trigger waves of retirements as new chiefs reshape command teams. The latest decision has now intensified national debate over whether the practice strengthens discipline or weakens continuity within the force.
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