The Nigeria Police Force has recalled 475 officers who were previously retired under the controversial “merger of service” policy, directing them to undergo a compulsory six-month induction course following a court ruling that nullified their retirement.
The directive was conveyed in a confidential letter dated July 31, 2026, signed by the Force Secretary, Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) Bode Akinbamilowo, on behalf of the Inspector-General of Police. The letter was addressed to Assistant Inspectors-General across the 17 police zones, Commissioners of Police in all states, and the Commandant of the Police Staff College, Jos.
According to the document, the officers were initially retired after a decision reached by the Police Service Commission (PSC) during its First Extraordinary Meeting on January 31, 2025, concerning the harmonisation of service years. However, the National Industrial Court, in Suit No. NICN/ABJ/28/2025, overturned the retirements, prompting the police authorities to reinstate the affected personnel.
The PSC subsequently approved the regularisation of the officers’ dates of first appointment during its plenary meeting on June 25, 2026, paving the way for their return to active service.
The Inspector-General directed all police commands to identify and notify the affected officers to report to the Police Staff College in Jos for the mandatory induction programme.
Among the senior officers recalled are Assistant Inspectors-General Idowu Owohunwa, Benneth Chinedu Igwe, Uche Ifeanyi Henry, and Deputy Commissioner of Police Simon Asamber Lough.
The affected officers were drawn from various recruitment and promotion courses between 1992 and 2012, covering ranks from Assistant Inspector-General down to Superintendent of Police.
The induction programme will begin with documentation from August 1 to August 16, 2026, while the six-month training is scheduled to run from August 17, 2026, to February 16, 2027.
The Inspector-General also instructed the Commandant of the Police Staff College to submit the list of documented participants by August 24, warning that delays in reporting would not be tolerated.
Copies of the directive were forwarded to key departments at Force Headquarters, including Deputy Inspectors-General responsible for Finance and Administration, Operations, Logistics and Supply, Investigation, Training and Development, Research and Planning, Information and Communication Technology, Intelligence, and Police Accounts and Budget, with instructions to ensure a smooth induction process.
The list of reinstated officers also includes several senior personnel nearing retirement, among them AIG Joseph O. Eribo, Commissioner of Police Fidelis Ndubuisi Ogarabe, Chief Superintendent of Police Sanusi Amiru, Chief Superintendent Grace Idowu Agboola, Chief Superintendent Oluwadare Ezekiel Ayeni, Chief Superintendent Angela Agabe, Deputy Commissioner Akinbayo Olasukami Olasoji, Deputy Commissioner Louis Chike Nwabuwa, Assistant Commissioner Benjamin Okehielam Okwara, and Chief Superintendent Rita A.A. Inoma-Abbey.
The recall marks a significant development in the long-running dispute over the police “merger of service” policy, restoring hundreds of officers to the force following the court’s intervention.
