PSC Dismisses Claims of Delayed Promotion of Police Inspectors, Describes Report as Misleading

PSC Dismisses Claims of Delayed Promotion of Police Inspectors, Describes Report as Misleading

The Police Service Commission (PSC) has dismissed allegations of undue delay in the promotion of police inspectors who participated in the 2025 Departmental Selection Board (DSB) exercise, describing a recent media report on the matter as misleading and unsubstantiated.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the Commission reacted to a report published by an online media platform on January 21, 2026, which alleged that inspectors who passed the 2025 promotion exercise were being subjected to prolonged delays without explanation.

The PSC reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, fairness and merit-based promotion within the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), stressing that promotions are carried out strictly in line with established guidelines, statutory procedures and available resources.

According to the Commission, contrary to claims of “total silence” from the PSC and the Force Headquarters, all officers who participated in the 2025 DSB exercise have been adequately informed of the status of their promotion through official channels. It added that officers experiencing any challenges are advised to seek clarification through their respective commands or directly from the Commission.

The PSC further clarified that comparisons between the promotion timelines of senior officers and inspector-level officers were inaccurate, noting that different ranks follow distinct procedural tracks.

While senior officer promotions often involve fewer candidates and faster processing due to operational exigencies, inspector-level promotions, the Commission explained, involve a much larger number of personnel and require extensive verification, including background checks and performance audits across multiple commands and states.

The Commission disclosed that the 2025 DSB exercise, conducted in December 2025, was successfully concluded and that the promotion process is progressing as scheduled. It added that efforts have been intensified to finalize and announce the promotions in the coming days, in line with administrative and fiscal requirements.

Reacting to claims of widespread demoralization among junior officers, the PSC described such assertions as speculative and not reflective of the general mood within the Force. It noted that no formal complaints have been received through established institutional channels, urging officers to utilize official grievance mechanisms rather than resorting to media reports.

The Commission, under the leadership of its Chairman, retired DIG Hashimu Salihu Argungu, and in collaboration with the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, PhD, NPM, reiterated its commitment to the welfare and career progression of all police personnel.

It emphasized that thousands of officers have been promoted in recent years without favoritism and assured that any perceived delays are the result of due diligence aimed at ensuring integrity, equity and professionalism in the promotion process.

The PSC also called on media organizations to verify information with the Commission before publishing reports capable of undermining public confidence in national institutions.

Members of the public and police officers were advised to seek accurate information through the PSC Public Affairs Section or via the Commission’s official website.

The statement was signed by the Head of Protocol and Public Affairs, Police Service Commission, Abuja.