PSC said promotions within the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) are processed in line with established guidelines, statutory timelines and available resources, stressing that the 2025 DSB exercise conducted in December was successfully concluded and that processing is ongoing.
The Police Service Commission (PSC) has said it will soon release the long-awaited promotion results of police inspectors who passed the 2025 Departmental Selection Board (DSB), insisting that there was no “total silence” from the Commission or Force Headquarters.
The Commission made the clarification on Thursday while responding to a SaharaReporters' report alleging prolonged delays and lack of communication over the promotion of inspectors recruited in 2001 and elevated to the rank of Inspector in 2018.
In a detailed rebuttal, the PSC said promotions within the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) are processed in line with established guidelines, statutory timelines and available resources, stressing that the 2025 DSB exercise conducted in December was successfully concluded and that processing is ongoing.
“There is no evidence of undue delay,” the Commission said, adding that it has accelerated efforts to finalise the promotion exercise in the coming days, in line with fiscal and administrative cycles.
Responding directly to claims by affected officers that they had received no communication months after completing the DSB, the PSC said all participating officers were duly informed of the status of their evaluations through official channels.
“Contrary to the report’s assertion of ‘total silence’ and ‘no explanation’ from the PSC or Force Headquarters, all officers who participated in the 2025 DSB have been informed through official channels,” the Commission said.
It added that comprehensive records of communication are maintained and urged officers experiencing difficulties to verify their status through their respective commands or contact the PSC directly.
The PSC also dismissed claims that inspector-level promotions were unfairly stalled while senior officers were promoted within weeks, describing such comparisons as misleading.
According to the Commission, promotions for senior officers often involve fewer candidates and faster reviews due to operational urgency, while inspector-level promotions require additional layers of verification, including background checks and performance audits across multiple commands.
“These processes naturally take more time and should not be interpreted as neglect or discrimination,” the statement said.
The Commission further rejected suggestions that the alleged delay had led to widespread demoralisation or plans for early retirement among inspectors.
“These claims are speculative and not reflective of the general mood within the Force,” the PSC said, noting that it had not received formal complaints from the affected officers through established institutional channels.
It advised officers to utilise formal grievance procedures rather than the media to resolve concerns.
The PSC, under the leadership of its Chairman, retired DIG Hashimu Salihu Argungu, said it remains committed to transparency, fairness and merit-based promotions, working closely with the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun.
“We have successfully promoted thousands of officers in recent years without favouritism,” the Commission said, adding that any perceived delays are usually the result of rigorous due diligence aimed at preserving integrity and equity.
SaharaReporters had earlier reported growing frustration among inspectors recruited in 2001 who said they were yet to be promoted despite passing the 2025 DSB in December.
Some of the officers, speaking anonymously, alleged that neither the PSC nor Force Headquarters had communicated with them since the exercise and expressed concern that senior colleagues were promoted within three weeks.
Documents obtained by SaharaReporters showed that the inspectors were officially invited to the DSB through a police wireless message issued by the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone XI, Osogbo.
While the PSC insists the promotion process is nearing completion, the affected inspectors say they are awaiting official announcements to bring clarity to their career progression.