The Police Service Commission (PSC) has reinforced its stance on promotion examinations as a standard practice for career advancement in the Nigeria Police Force, following the elevation of 219 senior officers to their next ranks.

During its ongoing plenary meeting, the Commission approved the promotion of 26 Assistant Commissioners of Police (ACP) to Deputy Commissioners, 23 Chief Superintendents of Police (CSP) to Assistant Commissioners, and 170 Assistant Superintendents of Police (ASP) to Deputy Superintendents.

This follows the Commission’s decision on Monday to elevate 66 officers, including 20 Commissioners of Police (CP) to Assistant Inspectors General of Police (AIG) and 19 Deputy Commissioners to CPs. Additionally, 13 Superintendents of Police (SP) were promoted to Chief Superintendents (CSP), and 14 Deputy Superintendents (DSP) were elevated to SPs.

PSC Chairman, retired Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Hashimu Argungu, emphasized that promotion exams are now a permanent feature of the police career structure, in line with public service regulations.

“The Nigeria Police Force must embrace the reality that promotion will be based on merit, and officers must undergo examinations as part of the process. No officer will be promoted without going through one form of examination or the other,” DIG Argungu stated.

He reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to upholding transparency and meritocracy in the promotion process, ensuring that only qualified and competent officers move up the ranks.

The promotion exercise was supervised by a panel that included DIG Taiwo Lakanu (rtd.) and Chief Onyemuchi Nnamani, who oversaw both the written examination and interactive interview sessions.

The PSC’s decision reinforces ongoing efforts to professionalize the police force, ensuring that officers meet the required standards to enhance law enforcement efficiency in Nigeria.