Promotion: The Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), retired Deputy Inspector General Hashimu Argungu, announced yesterday that the commission would no longer endorse irregular promotion practices within the Nigeria Police Force.
He emphasized that from now on, promotions would be strictly based on merit, requiring officers to pass designated examinations and fulfill other standard requirements.
Argungu highlighted that the concept of “special promotion” is not recognized globally and made it clear that the commission under his leadership would not support such practices.
During a meeting with members of the executive of the Association of Retired Police Officers of Nigeria, he reiterated that special promotions within the force had been officially abolished.
The PSC chairman said: “The law, however, allows for accelerated promotion for officers who have shown uncommon dexterity in the discharge of their duties but this will be done with care so as not to abuse it.”
He explained that promotions would now depend on merit, involving both written examinations and interviews. Seniority alone would no longer guarantee advancement.
Officers who fail the promotion exam will remain at their current rank, and if they fail three times, they will be retired at that level due to incompetence.
“Promotion will now be on merit and there will be written examination and interview. Seniority is now irrelevant in modern day policing since any officer who fails promotion examination will remain on the same rank and if he fails three times, he will be retired at that level for incompetence,” Argungu added.
The PSC chairman urged retired police officers to support this new direction, noting that their experience could be invaluable.
He expressed pride in the Nigeria Police Force, where he served and retired as a Deputy Inspector General, and assured that he would continue to uphold the integrity of the force.
“A policeman is like Ceasers’ wife and should be above suspicion, it is country first. If I die and have to come back, I will still want to be a policeman,” Argungu concluded.