BREAKING: Nigerian IGP Egbetokun Confirms Police Officers Lobbying Politicians For Postings, Threatens Disciplinary Actions

The Nigeria Police Force has expressed deep concerns over what it described as the "embarrassing practice" of police officers lobbying politicians and other external actors to influence postings within the force.

In an internal wireless message issued from the Force Secretary’s office in Abuja to all senior police commands and formations across the country which SaharaReporters obtained on Tuesday, the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, warned that lobbying for postings now constitutes a serious act of indiscipline under a new policy.

According to the signal, tagged CB.4001/FS/FHQ/ABJ/X and distributed to AIG Zones, Commissioners of Police, and key departments including MOPOL, INTERPOL, and POLAC Kano, the Police Force Headquarters noted: "INGENPOL HAS OBSERVED WITH ABJECT DISMAY X THE INCREASING RATE AND EMBARRASSING PRACTICE OF OFFICERS LOBBYING FOR POSTING X MOUNTING RELENTLESS PRESSURE ON POLITICIANS AND OTHER EXTERNAL FORCES TO UNSEAT THEIR COLLEAGUES X"

The message warned that such behaviour violates discipline and disrupts the internal administrative process of the police.

"OFFICERS ARE STRONGLY ADVISED TO ABIDE WITH THE NEW FORCE POLICY ON POSTING X OFFICERS ARE WARNED THAT ANY FORM OF LOBBYING IS AN ACT OF INDISCIPLINE X"

The statement further threatened officers with sanctions, noting that if the position being lobbied for is under query or not vacant, such lobbying would result in punishment without reward.

"BE GUIDED THAT IF OFFICE BEING LOBBIED FOR QUERIED X WHILE IF THE OFFICE BEING LOBBIED FOR IS NOT VACANT X THE OFFICER WILL BE QUERIED WITHOUT GETTING THE POSTING X"

The IGP also emphasised that officers facing medical or compassionate issues must go through the proper channels by writing to the Inspector General through the Force Secretary for consideration.

"OFFICERS LOOKING FOR POSTINGS ON HEALTH OR COMPASSIONATE GROUNDS SHOULD WRITE TO INGENPOL THROUGH THE FORSEC FOR CONSIDERATION X"

Commanders were directed to immediately lecture all officers from the rank of ASP and above on this policy, and to personally acknowledge receipt of the directive.

"YOU ARE TO MAKE THESE DIRECTIVES SUBJECT OF LECTURE TO ALL OFFICERS FROM THE RANK OF ASP AND ABOVE X YOURS X INGENPOL DIRECTS YOU PERSONALLY ACKNOWLEDGE RECEIPT X TREAT AS VERY IMPORTANT AND ENSURE STRICT COMPLIANCE PLEASE." 

The directive comes amid growing reports of internal sabotage, intense lobbying, and political interference in internal postings within the security operatives in Nigeria. 

Last weekend, a viral outburst from a retired Superintendent of Police ignited a firestorm of controversy over the treatment of Nigerian security personnel, after he rejected a ₦2million retirement benefit as "an insult" following 35 years of dedicated service to the nation.

The ex-police officer, who retired on October 1, 2023, voiced his frustration in an emotional video, asserting that the Nigerian Police Pension Board recently informed him that ₦3million had been approved as his total retirement payout: ₦1million in arrears from October 2023 to date, and ₦2million as his full entitlement. “What for?” he asked. “I served my country wholeheartedly.”

The retired officer, visibly angry and emotional in the video, vowed to reject the payment and take his battle into his own hands.