Gbajabiamila asks Police Service Commission to violate Promotion Act, requests ‘special promotion’ for eight policemen attached to politicians

The Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, has written to the Police Service Commission requesting special promotions for eight police officers attached to politicians, a move that directly contravenes the Police Service Commission Act.

Femi Gbajabiamila, the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, has triggered significant administrative and legal controversy after requesting the Police Service Commission (PSC) to grant special promotions to eight police officers currently assigned to politicians. According to secret correspondences exclusively obtained by TheCable, the requests were submitted in two separate letters, including one dated February 20, 2026, which specifically recommended targeted elevations for personnel assigned directly to the “officers attached to the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria”. The documents reveal an explicit push to upgrade one officer from the rank of assistant commissioner of police (ACP) to deputy commissioner of police (DCP), and two others from chief superintendent of police (CSP) to assistant commissioner of police.

The high-profile intervention from the State House has raised immediate concerns across Nigeria’s security architecture because the request directly violates the legal framework establishing the police administrative process. Section 6 of the Police Service Commission (Establishment) Act of 2001 strictly isolates the agency from political interference, stipulating that the powers to appoint and promote personnel within the Nigeria Police Force—excluding the Inspector-General of Police—rest solely with the commission. The foundational law explicitly states that “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,” and further mandates 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.” While the constitution grants the President general power to issue policy directives to the commission, legal experts argue this power does not extend to handpicking individual officers for rank upgrades.

Despite the statutory restrictions, the presidency’s chief of staff justified the request by praising the chosen officers for their loyalty and performance in the line of 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,” Gbajabiamila wrote. He closed the correspondence with an expectation of compliance from the independent board, stating, “As I anticipate your expeditious consideration of the request, kindly accept the assurances of my highest esteem, please.” Internal sources within the force have warned that forcing the commission to yield to political pressure could demoralize field officers on the frontlines who routinely miss out on promotions despite putting their lives at risk.

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