Police Inspectors Lament Delayed Promotion, Appeal to IGP, PSC for Intervention

Police Inspectors

A growing number of police inspectors across Nigeria are raising concerns over the delay in their promotion to the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), appealing directly to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, and the Police Service Commission (PSC) Chairman, DIG Hashimu Argungu (retd), to urgently address the matter.

According to tradition, the Nigeria Police Force convenes a Departmental Selection Board (DSB) every January to screen qualified inspectors for promotion, with the promotion list usually released by June. However, several affected officers say that as of mid-June 2025, they’ve not been invited for screening.

“We were last promoted in 2018 and confirmed in 2020. By now, we should have attended the DSB and seen the promotion list,” said one officer serving in Kogi State, speaking anonymously.

Another officer from Zone 7, Abuja, decried the prolonged silence and delay, warning it could dampen morale and affect motivation across the ranks.

“It’s been seven years on this rank. We’re supposed to be promoted this month, but the DSB hasn’t even been set up. If nothing is done, we might be skipped again this year,” he lamented.

Concerns Over Financial Implications and Special Promotions

Some officers believe the delay might be linked to the financial burden that promotions would place on the Force, especially with the corresponding salary adjustments.

“There are fears that the promotions are stalled because of cost implications,” an inspector at police headquarters in Abuja told Daily Trust. “If we’re not promoted this year, it’ll clash with the next batch due in 2026, and that’ll complicate things further.”

Another inspector alleged that some junior officers who joined in 2002 and 2003 were already being promoted via special arrangements, bypassing their seniors from the 2001 and 2018 intake years.

“That’s very demoralizing. We don’t mind others getting promoted, but our long-overdue promotion should not be ignored,” he added.

PSC Responds

When contacted, PSC spokesperson Ikechukwu Ani said he was unaware of any delay affecting the 2018 batch but confirmed that a DSB interview had recently taken place in several zones.

“I was at Zone 3 Headquarters in Yola for the last DSB. But I don’t have a specific briefing on this complaint,” Ani said.

However, affected officers argue that the recently concluded DSB was for a backdated promotion exercise targeting officers enlisted in 2000, who were left out when their mates were promoted in 2016.

A police signal dated May 5, 2025, obtained by Daily Trust, confirmed this, instructing zonal commands to conduct a special DSB for those enlisted in the year 2000 but still awaiting ASP promotion.

Final Appeal

The aggrieved officers praised the IGP and PSC for recent promotions but urged them to extend the same fairness to the 2018 batch to prevent further disillusionment within the ranks.

“We just want fairness. Promoting us will greatly boost our morale,” one inspector said.

Daily Trust

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