Speaking to SaharaReporters on condition of anonymity, one of the officers described the situation as “deeply demoralising and unfair.”
Growing frustration is brewing within the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) as a group of inspectors recruited in 2001 and promoted to the rank of Inspector in February 2018 lament prolonged delays in their expected elevation, despite having successfully passed through the 2025 Departmental Selection Board (DSB).
The affected officers, drawn from different commands, say they have yet to receive any official communication from Force Headquarters (FHQ) or the Police Service Commission (PSC) months after completing the mandatory promotion exercise in December 2025.
Speaking to SaharaReporters on condition of anonymity, one of the officers described the situation as “deeply demoralising and unfair.”
“We took the DSB in December 2025 and completed everything required of us. Since then, there has been total silence from FHQ and the PSC. No explanation, no update; nothing,” he said.
The officers expressed particular concern that while their promotion process has stalled, some of their senior colleagues were promoted within three weeks in December 2025.
“What hurts most is that senior officers were promoted almost immediately, within three weeks. Meanwhile, those of us who have waited patiently and met all requirements are left in limbo,” another officer said.
According to the officers, the delay has begun to affect morale across the ranks, with junior officers now fearful that similar treatment may await them in the future.
“This uncertainty is killing morale. Our juniors are watching and asking questions. If this can happen to us, what hope do they have?” one inspector noted.
Some of the affected officers disclosed that a number of their colleagues are already contemplating early retirement, citing frustration and lack of clarity over their career progression.
“People are thinking of retiring because there is no certainty anymore. When promotion becomes unpredictable, it takes away motivation and dedication,” an officer said.
The inspectors have now appealed directly to the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and the Chairman of the Police Service Commission, retired DIG Hashimu Salihu Argungu, to urgently intervene.
“We are calling on the IGP and the PSC chairman to look into this matter. We are not asking for favours, only fairness and transparency,” one of them said.
Documents obtained by SaharaReporters on Wednesday, show that the affected officers were officially invited to the 2025 Departmental Selection Board through a police wireless message issued by the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone XI, Osogbo.
The wireless message, dated November 25, 2025, announced that the DSB would commence on December 1, 2025, at the Zone XI Headquarters in Osogbo, covering officers from Oyo and Osun state commands, Police Training School Ibadan, SPU B.22 Ibadan, and the MOPOL Training Unit in Ila-Orangun.
“We honoured the invitation, attended the board as scheduled, and completed the process in good faith,” an officer said. “That is why the silence afterward is disturbing.”
A retired senior police officer warned that prolonged delays in promotion processes could undermine discipline and operational efficiency within the force.
“Promotion is not just about rank; it is about motivation, command structure, and morale. When officers feel stagnated, it affects performance,” he said.
The affected inspectors insist they will continue to pursue the matter through lawful and institutional channels.
“We still believe in the system,” one officer said. “All we want is for the authorities to do the right thing and give us the dignity we have earned through years of service.”