The Police Service Commission (PSC) has dismissed media reports alleging undue delays in the promotion of police inspectors who participated in the 2025 Departmental Selection Board (DSB) exercise.
The clarification was contained in a statement published on the Commission’s official website on Thursday and obtained by our correspondent on Friday.
The PSC said it “wishes to categorically rebut the claims made in the articles, which appear to be based on unsubstantiated anonymous sources and misrepresent the commission’s processes and commitments.”
Reaffirming its stance, the Commission stated that it “reaffirms its dedication to transparency, fairness, and merit-based promotions within the Nigeria Police Force (NPF),” explaining that promotions are “governed by established guidelines, including the successful completion of the DSB exercises, and are processed in accordance with statutory timelines and resource availability.”
Addressing reports that alleged a lack of communication from authorities, the PSC countered the claim, saying: “Contrary to the report’s assertion of ‘total silence’ and ‘no explanation’ from the PSC or Force Headquarters (FHQ), all officers who participated in the 2025 DSB, including those from the specified zones and commands, have been duly informed through official channels about the status of their evaluations.”
The Commission further noted that it “maintains comprehensive records of communications, and any officer experiencing issues is encouraged to verify through their respective commands or directly with the PSC.”
Responding to claims that inspector-level promotions had been stalled while senior officers were promoted within weeks, the PSC described the report as misleading.
“The claim that promotions for these inspectors have been ‘stalled’ while Senior Officers were elevated ‘within three weeks’ is misleading and overlooks the distinct procedural tracks for different ranks,” the statement said.
It explained that “Senior-level promotions, often involving fewer candidates and streamlined reviews, may indeed proceed more swiftly due to their operational urgency,” whereas “Inspector-Level promotions involve larger cohorts and additional layers of verification, including background checks, performance audits, and other considerations across states and commands.”
The PSC added that the 2025 DSB exercise, “conducted in December 2025 as referenced in the police wireless message, was completed successfully, and processing is ongoing as per schedule.”
It stressed that, “There is no evidence of undue delay; in fact, the PSC has accelerated efforts to finalize announcements in the coming few days, aligning with fiscal and administrative cycles.”
Discontent among junior officers
Reacting to suggestions of dissatisfaction within the junior ranks, the Commission said, “Suggestions of widespread demoralization, threats of early retirement, or erosion of Junior Officers’ confidence are speculative and not reflective of the broader sentiment within the Force.”
It stated that it “regularly engages with officers through official communication channels to address concerns,” adding, “We have not received formal complaints from the affected officers via institutional channels, which raises questions about the anonymity-driven narrative in the report.”
The PSC advised officers “to utilize established grievance procedures rather than relying on media outlets for resolution.”
According to the statement, the PSC, “under the leadership of Chairman, retired DIG Hashimu Salihu Argungu, in collaboration with the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, PhD, NPM, remains committed to upholding the welfare and career progression of all NPF personnel.”
It added, “We have successfully promoted thousands of officers in recent years, including batches from similar cohorts, and will continue to do so without favoritism,” noting that “any perceived delays are often due to rigorous due diligence to ensure integrity and equity, not neglect.”
The Commission also urged the media to verify information before publication, calling on “…media outlets to verify facts with the PSC before publishing potentially divisive stories that could undermine public trust in our institutions.”
For further clarification, the PSC said, “For accurate information, members of the public and officers alike are invited to contact the PSC Public Affairs Section or visit our official website: www.psc.gov.ng.”
“The PSC will not be deterred from its mandate and assures all stakeholders of continued professionalism in service delivery,” it concluded.
Meanwhile, it was reported in November 2024 that at least 4,449 police officers filed a suit at the National Industrial Court in Abuja against the Nigeria Police Force and the Inspector-General of Police over alleged failure to decorate them with their new ranks despite approvals granted by the PSC.
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