The Chief of Staff (CoS) to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, has reportedly asked the Police Service Commission (PSC) to grant special promotion to eight police officers attached to politicians, a move that triggered legal and ethical concerns over the commission’s statutory powers.
Saturday Telegraph gathered that the requests were contained in two separate letters allegedly written by Gbajabiamila seeking accelerated promotion for officers attached to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other political office holders.
One of the letters, dated February 20, 2026, according to The Cable, reportedly contained the names of three officers, while another listed five officers recommended for elevation to higher ranks.
The request reportedly sought the promotion of one officer from Assistant Commissioner of Police to Deputy Commissioner of police, while two others were recommended for promotion from Chief Superintendent of Police to Assistant Commissioner.
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In the letter cited by the publication, Gbajabiamila reportedly wrote, “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.”
The development has sparked concerns because the Police Service Commission Act vests powers relating to police promotions solely in the commission.
Section 6 of the Act provides that the commission is responsible for “the appointment and promotion of persons” within the Nigeria Police Force, excluding the Inspector-General of Police, while also stating that the commission “shall not be subject to the direction, control or supervision of any other authority or person” in carrying out its duties.
Although the law allows the president to issue policy directives to the commission, legal observers note that such powers do not extend to direct involvement in individual promotions.
The report also referenced earlier controversies surrounding special promotions within the Tinubu administration, including the rapid elevation of presidential aide-de-camp Nurudeen Yusuf within military ranks.
Sources quoted in the report warned that preferential promotions based on political proximity could negatively affect morale among officers engaged in frontline security operations across the country.
One police officer cited in the report expressed concern that personnel fighting insurgency and violent crime often receive less recognition than officers attached to political leaders.
“If Tinubu continues like this, morale will be low, and men on the frontlines will have nothing to fight for again,” the officer reportedly said.
Neither the presidency nor the Police Service Commission had publicly responded to the report as of the time of filing this story.
