Disquiet has trailed correspondences by the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, to the Police Service Commission (PSC) requesting special promotion for eight police officers attached to politicians, a move that has sparked legal and ethical concerns over alleged interference in police administrative processes.
According to TheCable, the requests were conveyed in two separate letters seeking accelerated promotion for officers attached to the President and other top government officials.
One of the letters, dated February 20, 2026, contained the names of three officers, while the second letter listed five others.
The requests included the promotion of one officer from the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police to Deputy Commissioner of Police, while two others were recommended for elevation from Chief Superintendent of Police to Assistant Commissioner of Police.
In the letter, Gbajabiamila justified the request on the grounds of performance and dedication to duty.
“By this letter, therefore, I am recommending the promotion of the officers to their next ranks in recognition of their exemplary leadership qualities, gallantry, teamwork and general performance of their duties in their respective offices,” he wrote.
“As I anticipate your expeditious consideration of the request, kindly accept the assurances of my highest esteem, please.”
The development has, however, triggered fresh debate over the powers of the Police Service Commission under the Police Service Commission (Establishment) Act, 2001.
Section 6 of the Act vests the authority for appointments and promotions within the Nigeria Police Force solely in the commission.
“The Commission shall be responsible for the appointment and promotion of persons (other than the office of the Inspector-General of Police) in the Commission Nigeria Police Force,” the Act states.
It further provides that, “The Commission shall not be subject to the direction, control or supervision of any other authority or person in performance of its functions other than as is prescribed in this Act.”
Although the law allows the President to issue directives to the commission, such directives are restricted to matters of policy.
“Subject to the provisions of this Act, the President may give the Commission directives of a general nature or relating generally to matters of policy with regard to the performance by the Commission of its functions, and it shall be the duty of the Commission to comply with the directives,” Section 19 of the Act reads.
The report also recalled previous controversies surrounding special promotions within the Tinubu administration.
In January 2025, Nurudeen Yusuf, aide-de-camp to President Tinubu, was promoted from Lieutenant Colonel to Colonel and later elevated to Brigadier-General through what was described as a “special presidential promotion.”
However, the proposed decoration of Yusuf as a one-star General was eventually shelved following intervention from two former Chiefs of Army Staff amid concerns over its implications for military hierarchy.
A presidency source quoted in the report warned that the latest police promotion request could deepen concerns about preferential treatment for officers attached to political officeholders.
“The president’s men are using their proximity to baba to get away with desecrating the military and police hierarchy, and if care is not taken, this may make a mess of the order within the armed forces,” the source said.
“In the past, I used to vouch that baba knows nothing about this, but with the drama that went on with his ADC, it became clear that he might just be looking away.”
The source also questioned whether the current police leadership would resist pressure from the presidency.
“You will expect that Tunji Disu, who promised his men improved welfare, will not approve this special promotion, but watch him dance to the tunes and pressure of our people. Once baba has spoken, who is Disu to drag his feet?” the source added.
Another police officer familiar with the matter expressed fears that the development could negatively affect morale among officers fighting insecurity across the country.
“In Yobe, 17 police officers were killed; nobody from the villa called their families or went to pay condolence visits,” the officer said.
“In fact, the other police officers in that squad went on to fight Boko Haram the next day. Those ones don’t get special promotions; they don’t even get presidential handshakes, but the ones who salute the president, drive in AC vehicles, and eat presidential food get presidential promotions for enjoyment.”
“If Tinubu continues like this, morale will be low, and men on the frontlines will have nothing to fight for again,” the officer added.
The officer further warned that promotions within the security services risk becoming tied to political connections rather than merit and service.
“He said promotion in the armed forces is inching closer to the exclusive preserve of godfathers and not meritorious service to Nigeria.”
Hafsoh Isiaq is a graduate of Linguistics. An avid writer committed to creative, high-quality research and news reportage. She has considerable experience in writing and reporting across a variety of platforms including print and online.
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