Daniel Otera
Human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has raised serious concerns over the continued stay in office of three top-ranking security chiefs, accusing the Federal Government of violating civil service regulations.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Sowore alleged that the heads of the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Customs Service, and Nigeria Immigration Service have exceeded the statutory 35-year service limit but remain in office, in what he described as a “slap at national integrity” and a breach of institutional norms.
“These officers in the @PoliceNG, @CustomsNG, and @nigimmigration have exceeded the 35-year service limit and should have retired, but due to tribal favouritism, they remain in office,” Sowore said.
The officials referenced include Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun; Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Kemi Nandap; and Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi.
According to Nigeria’s Public Service Rules (PSR), 2021 edition, compulsory retirement is mandated upon attaining 60 years of age or completing 35 years of pensionable service, whichever comes first. Chapter 2, Section 020810 states:
“The compulsory retirement age for all grades in the service shall be 60 years or 35 years of pensionable service, whichever is earlier. No officer shall be allowed to remain in service after attaining the retirement age of 60 years or 35 years of pensionable service whichever is earlier.”
The rule is designed to promote fairness, institutional renewal, and accountability across all tiers of the public service. It applies uniformly to all public officers unless otherwise provided by specific legislation.
Sowore warned that continued flouting of this regulation threatens democratic order.
“For us, justice and institutional order are non-negotiable. You can’t build a functional democracy on the back of selective application of rules. Once you hit the 35-year mark, you retire. No one is above that,” he stated.
Scrutiny has grown over the eligibility of the current security leaders, whose service records suggest they may have surpassed the retirement benchmark.
Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, appointed in June 2023, reportedly joined the Nigeria Police Force in 1990. Based on that timeline, he would be due for retirement in 2025, having served 35 years. However, amendments to the Police Act in 2020 provide for a four-year tenure for the IGP, potentially extending his stay until 2027, regardless of age or length of service.
Similarly, available information on Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, and Comptroller-General of Immigration, Kemi Nandap, suggests they began their respective careers around 1989. If confirmed, this would mean they have already exceeded the 35-year service limit unless formally exempted or reappointed under a legal framework.
While official records remain partially inaccessible to the public, Sowore’s claims have reignited public debate over transparency and compliance within the upper echelons of Nigeria’s security architecture.
Concerns about tenure extensions in Nigeria’s security sector are not new. In 2021, then President Muhammadu Buhari faced sustained pressure from civil society groups over the prolonged service of the nation’s top military officers. Eventually, the Chief of Defence Staff and three other service chiefs were replaced after surpassing statutory limits.
Analysts warn that repeated breaches of retirement regulations could damage institutional credibility. A Lagos-based policy analyst writing in a 2024 civil service reform brief noted, “When agencies don’t uphold their own rules, it’s not just about legal infractions; it becomes an issue of public trust and moral leadership.”
Experts have raised the alarm over the negative impact of tenure extensions on internal operations within security agencies. Prolonged stay of senior officials often results in career stagnation for lower-ranking officers and can breed resentment within the ranks.
A report by The Guardian quoted Chibuzor Ekalonu of Citizens for Ethical Leadership and Law as saying: “Extended tenures in the police are a barrier to transformative leadership and fair progression. They stifle career advancement for younger officers and create resentment in the ranks”
Within the Nigeria Customs Service, a Times Nigeria investigation revealed that “officers due for promotion remain in limbo as top officials lobby for tenure extensions,” leading to internal tensions and disruption of operational efficiency (Times Nigeria, 2024).
Sowore attributed the alleged tenure extensions to tribal considerations, describing the development as “ethnic capture.” While there is no official confirmation supporting this claim, it has reignited the national conversation around federal character compliance in top appointments.
The Federal Character Commission (FCC), constitutionally mandated to ensure equitable representation of all regions in government positions, has not responded publicly to the matter.
“This is not governance, it’s ethnic capture,” Sowore emphasised, calling on the Federal Government to reverse the tenure extensions and uphold the rule of law.
As of the time of this report, the Presidency, the Police, Customs, and Immigration services have yet to issue formal responses to the concerns raised.