A civil society organisation, under the auspices of Visionary Leaders Consensus (VLC), on Tuesday, kicked against the appointment of Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) Olatunji Disu as Nigeria’s new acting Inspector-General of Police (IGP) by President Bola Tinubu.
The National Chairman VLC, Dr. Ibrahim Bature and its Secretary, Comrade Bello Roba, in a joint press statement made available to newsmen in Abuja, said such appointment will not be in the best interest of the country.
The reaction came following the announcement by the president’s Spokesman, Mr Bayo Onanuga, that Disu has been appointed to act after the resignation of Mr Kayode Egbetokun as the country’s IGP.
“The appointment of Assistant Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu as Nigeria’s new acting Inspector-General of Police has raised significant concerns among stakeholders, with two major structural disadvantages coming to the fore
“First, his (Disu’s) impending retirement in April 2026 and the forced resignation of at least 16 senior officers that his appointment would trigger.
“AIG Disu, born on April 13, 1966, will reach the mandatory retirement age of 60 in April 2026, giving him barely two months in office if appointed now.
“This effectively means Nigeria could face another leadership change in the police force within weeks, creating instability at the top echelons of law enforcement,” the group said.
According to them, this situation mirrors the controversy that plagued outgoing IGP Kayode Egbetokun’s tenure.
“Egbetokun, who was appointed at 58, had his tenure extended beyond the statutory retirement age through a controversial amendment to the Police Act.
“The National Assembly had amended the Police Act to allow an appointed IGP to serve a fixed four-year term regardless of age, a move critics described as designed to benefit Egbetokun personally.
“If the same logic is not applied to Disu, his tenure would be among the shortest in the force’s history.
“However, applying another tenure extension so soon after the last one would further undermine institutional integrity and public confidence in the police leadership selection process,” they said.
Besides, the group, which argued that the development may lead to massive reshuffle in the system, said about 16 AIGs and nine Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG) may be forced out of service.
“Perhaps more destabilising is the domino effect of Disu’s appointment.
“Police Service Commission rules and police hierarchy conventions dictate that when a new IGP emerges, several senior officers must proceed on compulsory retirement to create a clear leadership line.
“According to sources within the Nigeria Police Force, at least 29 senior police officers – comprising 16 Assistant Inspectors-General of Police (AIGs) and 9 Deputy Inspectors-General of Police (DIGs) – may be removed from office following the leadership change.
“This represents a significant portion of the force’s top command structure,” they said.
The CSO said this mass exit would create a leadership vacuum at the highest levels of the Nigeria Police Force, potentially disrupting ongoing operations and institutional memory.
“The planned removal of these senior officers is believed to be aimed at realigning the police hierarchy under the incoming leadership.
“However, such a sweeping change in such a short time could paralyse decision-making processes and erode the experience base at the top.”
The group said this could also cause institutional instability in the force.
“The convergence of these two factors – an IGP with a two-month tenure and the forced exit of nearly 30 top officers – presents a perfect storm of institutional instability,” they said.
According to them, a rushed leadership change followed by mass exits at the top would only compound the existing challenges.
Legal and Procedural Questions
“Disu’s appointment also raises legal questions.
“The presidency has stated that President Tinubu will convene a meeting of the Nigeria Police Council shortly to formally consider the appointment of AIG Disu as substantive IGP, after which his name will be transmitted to the Senate for confirmation.
“This process would be difficult to complete within a two-month window.
“Furthermore, the circumstances of Egbetokun’s exit remain contested.
“While some sources claim he was forced to resign at the president’s request, the presidency officially stated that Egbetokun resigned voluntarily citing ‘pressing family considerations.’
“This ambiguity does little to inspire confidence in the transparency of police leadership transitions,” they said.
The group, therefore, advised that rather than another short-term appointment that will trigger mass retirements, the government should consider a more stable transition that preserves institutional memory while bringing fresh leadership.
“As Nigeria grapples with significant security challenges, the last thing the country needs is a police leadership in name only, with an IGP counting days to retirement and dozens of senior officers cleaning out their desks,” they concluded.