The recent deployment of Commissioners of Police (CPs) to state commands has raised concerns over potential violations of the Police Act 2020 and the Federal Character Principle.
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The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, and the Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), Deputy Inspector General (DIG), Hashimu Argungu, are under scrutiny for their handling of these appointments, which some believe undermines the constitutional requirements of equal representation across Nigeria’s geopolitical zones.
According to the Police Act 2020, specifically Part IV, Section 12(4), both the PSC and the IGP are mandated to ensure that the deployment of CPs to state commands reflects the Federal Character Principle, ensuring that each zone and state is fairly represented. The Act stipulates that each state and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) should have one CP. This means the South West and South South zones should have six CPs each, while the North, with its 19 states, should have 19 CPs. The South East, with five states, should have five CPs.
However, in a glaring disregard for these provisions, the deployment of CPs has skewed heavily in favor of the South West and North. As of now, 10 CPs from the South West are in charge of state commands, including states such as Lagos, Rivers, Kwara, and Oyo. In contrast, the South South has only two CPs, while the South East is represented by just one CP. Meanwhile, the North has a total of 23 CPs, holding positions across the states.
This imbalance is causing unrest among police personnel, particularly in the South East and South South zones, who feel marginalized by the ongoing appointments. A retired police officer, speaking anonymously, expressed frustration, emphasizing that the law requires each state to have a CP in charge of its police command. “When a state does not have a CP, it is a violation of the Police Act,” the officer said.
Another retired Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of Police recounted a historical instance where a South East officer, AIG Donald Iroham, was prevented from taking up his post as CP in Lagos despite being appointed. This kind of regional bias, they argued, has persisted for decades, further deepening the sense of exclusion.
In response to the allegations, Ikechukwu Ani, Public Relations Officer of the PSC, dismissed the claim of marginalization, stating that the appointment and posting of CPs are dynamic and subject to the needs of the police force. He pointed out that the South East currently has two Deputy Inspectors General (DIGs), while other regions only have one. “The posting of CPs is based on operational needs and the capacity of the individual officers. It is not based on seniority or any notion of marginalization,” Ani explained.
Ani also assured that the posting process will evolve over time, with upcoming retirements providing an opportunity for a more balanced distribution of CPs across regions. He urged that the IGP’s decisions be understood in the context of operational efficiency rather than regional bias.
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