A directive from the Police Service Commission (PSC) mandating Assistant Superintendents of Police (ASPs) and other senior officers across Nigeria to converge on Abuja for a compulsory promotion examination has sparked widespread criticism and backlash from within the police force. The decision, which comes at a time of heightened insecurity across several regions of the country, has been described by many affected officers as both “insensitive” and “unnecessary,” with some questioning the rationale behind such a centralised process.
According to credible sources within the force, the PSC instructed all eligible officers—regardless of location or prevailing security risks in their respective states—to report physically in the Federal Capital Territory to sit for the promotional exercise. This directive applies to officers from the rank of ASP upwards, including Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSPs) and Superintendents of Police (SPs), many of whom serve in volatile or high-risk areas.
Several police officers, speaking anonymously to KIIN360, expressed frustration over the logistics and risks involved in obeying the PSC’s order. Many view the policy as not only detached from the realities of Nigeria’s current security situation but also financially and emotionally burdensome for personnel who are already overstretched and under-resourced.
“This decision is useless and clearly shows a lack of empathy for those of us in the field,” an officer stationed in the North East . “We are battling banditry, terrorism, and kidnapping daily, yet they expect us to abandon our duty posts, travel hundreds of kilometers—some by road through dangerous routes—just to write a test that could have been conducted regionally or even virtually.”
The criticism has been particularly fierce given the rising cost of transportation and the threats associated with inter-state travel in many parts of the country. Officers from remote or conflict-prone zones such as Borno, Zamfara, and parts of the South East face the twin challenges of insecurity and poor infrastructure, further compounding the burden imposed by the directive.
Observers have also questioned the necessity of physical presence in Abuja for an internal promotion exam in 2025, at a time when digital platforms and zonal coordination are widely available and have been successfully used by several government agencies for similar purposes. Some stakeholders within the police community argue that this centralisation is not only outdated but also undermines the welfare and morale of officers who risk their lives daily to maintain law and order.
The Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Solomon Arase, a former Inspector General of Police himself, has come under intense scrutiny over the move, with calls for the Commission to reconsider the policy in favour of more practical and decentralized alternatives. Critics argue that a zonal or state-based approach to the examination would reduce both the risk and cost for officers, especially those deployed in frontline security operations.
Meanwhile, the PSC has yet to officially respond to the criticisms or provide further clarification on the logistics, safety measures, or support systems put in place for officers traveling for the exam. As the date for the promotion test draws nearer, tensions remain high within the rank and file of the Nigeria Police Force, with many officers hoping the Commission will reverse course and adopt a more humane and realistic approach.