Just six weeks before the general election, anxiety has continued to mount over the expected retirement of the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Alkali Usman Daba, three Deputy Inspectors General of Police (DIGs), many Assistant Inspectors General of Police (AIGs), Commissioners of Police (CPs) and 290 other policemen in the first quarter of 2023.

According to a media report, IGP Baba would turn 60 in March. He was born in 1963 and now due for retirement. Also, three DIGs and scores of AIGs are due for retirement between this month and March ending.

Others due for retirement by March are 10 Commissioners of Police (CPs), five Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs), about 30 Assistant Commissioners of Police (ACPs), over 35 Chief Superintendents of Police (CSPs), 47 Superintendents of Police (SPs), 55 Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSPs) and 70 Assistant Superintendents of Police (ASPs).

the report indicated that the retirement of close to 50 policemen at once, including the IGP and 16 AIGs in an election year has become a serious concern for the authorities, especially the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

“There are fears over security during the general election as the full compliments of police personnel is needed nationwide in February when the presidential and National Assembly elections hold as well as in March when the governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections will take place,” a source said.

It was gathered that before IGP’s statutory retirement in March, three DIGs are expected to exit the force this month as they reach their retirement age.

Sources in the police revealed that among those expected to retire are Mobile Squadron Commander Area Commanders, and Divisional Police Officers (DPOs). Usually, such police officers get strategic postings during elections owing to their critical positions, it was gathered.

When contacted on the expected mass retirement in the police, an official of INEC, who does not want his name in print, said the commission was focusing on organising credible elections while leaving such matters as security to be handled by those concerned.

On whether he was afraid that mass retirement in the police may affect election security, he said: “I should think that the Federal government knows what to do.”

While it was not clear what the Police Service Commission (PSC) and Ministry of Police Affairs would recommend to President Muhammadu Buhari, regarding the expected retirement of the IGP and others at this critical time, some retired police officers said the option of service extension till after the elections could be explored.

A former IGP said the officers could get an extension in the circumstance. According to him, the officers due for retirement should be given three months extension for effective monitoring of the elections.

“It is not easy to immediately fill their vacuum. Already, INEC and some people are saying that due to insecurity the elections may not hold. In internal security, the police are the bedrock, the first to be called upon. And the elections involve internal security.”

Justifying his recommendation for extension, he said: “The Civil Service Rules say a civil servant is due for retirement after serving 35 years or after attaining 60 years of age, but the President has the prerogative to extend anybody’s tenure.”

A retired DIG from the North, who pleaded anonymity, said it would be the first time such a large number of police officers would go on retirement at the same period, which makes it imperative that“at such critical period, as during national elections, the president could grant an extension. It is not about the people who are to retire, but for national security. We need all the policemen to be around during elections,” he said.

A retired AIG, on his part, said: “I fear that effective monitoring of the elections may be affected if such number is allowed to go at this crucial period of the elections. It is not possible to fill the vacuum immediately.”

A Commissioner at the PSC, who declined to be named, said as a responsible body made up of experienced people, the PSC would not be against extension of the service period of IGP and the officers concerned.

“If the IGP feels that the large number of the officers due for retirement will affect effective monitoring of the elections, let him write to the President for their extension. For the IGP, it is the Presidency that will determine his fate. We (PSC) have no objection to whatever that would be done to maintain stability and security,'' he said.

Imo House of Assembly Took N27bn To Reject LG Autonomy -Ohanaeze Youths Allege

By CHARLES IWUOHA

The Ohanaeze Youths Counci (OYC) has alleged that members of the lmo State House of Assembly collected about ₦27bn as bribe in order to reject the proposed local government autonomy.

The Council described the South-East governors as Political cum economic vandals in Igbo land.

Addressing newsmen in Owerri, Imo State capital on Monday, 16th January, 2023, the council's national president, Comrade Igboayaka O. Igboayakaexonerated the federal government, urging Ndigbo to hold past and present South-East Governors responsible for the region's economic woes.

Igboayaka described the Igbo race as the most "unfortunate", having produced "the league of professional 419 syndicates" as Governors in 1999.

In his words: "Since 1999, South-East Governors abandoned Local Government and turned it to a mere Animal Farm.

"Every facility at various local governments have been vandalized, including tractors procured by the military government to maintain rural roads.

"Community markets, health centres, primary and secondary schools, water facilities installed by military regime are all in shambles.

"As of today, there is no functional facility at various local government councils , some of them have been sold or privatized by the criminal past and present governors in South-East.

"Many of these criminal governors that looted LGA funds are in the Senate today. They're merely on business transaction with our common resources.

"The social cum political evil of South-East is worse than what Ndigbo have received from the Nigeria government.

"Just on Tuesday, January 10, 2023 Ndigbo received another blow of wickedness by some charlatans in Imo State House of Assembly led by one notorious looter, Rt. Honourable and rejected autonomy for the legislature.

"They also rejected autonomy for the judiciary and rejected local government autonomy as well after collecting whooping sum of N27 billion to share among cliques of Yahoo boys masquerading as House of Assembly members."