The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has commenced the process of reintegrating Assistant Inspectors-General of Police Idowu Owohunwa, Benneth Chinedu Igwe and Uche Ifeanyi Henry, alongside 472 other officers whose compulsory retirements were overturned by the National Industrial Court.
The affected officers, whose ranks range from Superintendent of Police (SP) to Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG), have been directed to undergo a mandatory six-month induction programme at the Police Staff College in Jos, Plateau State, as part of the process of returning them to active service.
Their reinstatement followed a judgment of the National Industrial Court which nullified the earlier decision to compulsorily retire the officers under the Police Service Commission’s controversial merger-of-service policy.
A confidential directive dated July 31, 2026, and signed by the Force Secretary, Assistant Inspector-General of Police Bode Akinbamilowo, on behalf of the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, was reportedly circulated to Assistant Inspectors-General overseeing the 17 police zones, Commissioners of Police in all state commands and the Commandant of the Police Staff College, Jos.
The directive instructed the relevant police formations to ensure that the affected officers are promptly informed of the development and directed to report for the compulsory induction exercise.
According to the directive, the Police Service Commission (PSC), at its plenary meeting held on June 25, 2026, approved the regularisation of the dates of first appointment of the affected officers in compliance with the judgment of the National Industrial Court in Suit No. NICN/ABJ/28/2025.
The decision effectively reversed the commission’s earlier position on the officers’ retirement and paved the way for their formal return to the Nigeria Police Force.
Court overturns compulsory retirement
The officers had previously been retired following a decision taken by the Police Service Commission at its First Extraordinary Meeting on January 31, 2025.
The commission’s decision, which was based on its interpretation of the applicable service rules and the merger-of-service policy, resulted in the compulsory retirement of a large number of senior police personnel.
The affected officers subsequently challenged the decision in court, arguing that their retirements were unlawful and inconsistent with their established conditions of service.
Following the legal proceedings, the National Industrial Court set aside the commission’s decision and ordered steps to restore the affected personnel to the positions and service status they held before their compulsory retirement.
The latest directive from the police authorities is therefore part of the implementation of the court judgment and the administrative process required to return the officers to active service.
Six-month induction programme
As part of their reintegration, the affected officers are required to participate in a six-month induction programme at the Police Staff College, Jos.
The exercise has been divided into two phases. Documentation and the arrival of participants are scheduled to take place between August 1 and August 16, 2026, while the formal induction training will commence on August 17, 2026, and run until February 16, 2027.
The programme is expected to familiarise the returning officers with current policing structures, operational procedures, administrative developments and other changes that may have occurred within the force during their absence.
The Force Secretary directed the relevant commands and formations to ensure that all affected officers are located and informed of the directive.
The commands were also instructed to ensure that the officers report for the exercise without delay.
The Commandant of the Police Staff College, Jos, was further directed to submit the list of officers who had completed documentation to the appropriate authorities on or before August 24, 2026.
The directive reportedly warned that late reporting would not be tolerated, underscoring the seriousness with which the police authorities are treating the implementation of the court judgment.
Revised retirement dates
Official records indicate that the affected officers were recruited into the Nigeria Police Force and subsequently promoted through various police courses conducted between 1992 and 2012.
Following the court judgment, their dates of retirement have been revised in accordance with the applicable service rules and the decision of the court.
The adjustment is expected to restore their service records and enable them to resume their careers within the police force without the compulsory retirement previously imposed on them.
The reinstatement of the senior officers could also have implications for the police hierarchy, including postings, promotions, command responsibilities and the structure of senior leadership within the force.
Implications for police administration
The development is significant for the Nigeria Police Force as it represents one of the largest reinstatement exercises involving senior police personnel in recent years.
It also highlights the importance of adherence to due process in decisions concerning the appointment, promotion, discipline and retirement of personnel within the security services.
The case has drawn attention to the need for clear and consistent interpretation of police service regulations, particularly where administrative policies affect the careers and retirement status of serving officers.
For the affected personnel, the court judgment and subsequent administrative action offer an opportunity to resume their careers after a period of uncertainty.
The police authorities are now expected to complete the documentation and induction process before the officers are fully reintegrated into their respective formations.
As the six-month exercise begins, attention will remain focused on how the Nigeria Police Force implements the judgment and manages the return of the 475 affected officers, including the three AIGs, to active service.
The development could also provide an important precedent for future disputes involving compulsory retirement and other administrative decisions within the Nigeria Police Force.