Recently disengaged police officers have appealed to President Bola Tinubu to instruct Inspector General of Police, Mr. Kayode Egbetokun, to reinstate them as ordered by the National Industrial Court.
The affected officers, members of Courses 33, 34, and 35 of the Police Academy, claim they were forcibly retired without regard for their service duration. They secured a judgment from the NICN for their reinstatement, but the directive has not been implemented by the police force.
In an open letter addressed to the President, through their lawyer, Mr. Olatoye Adejola, the aggrieved officers expressed their frustration at the IGP’s failure to comply with the court’s order. The letter, made available to LEADERSHIP in Akure, stated that the National Industrial Court had instructed the IGP to re-engage them, yet no action has been taken.
According to the letter, the police force had ordered the officers to report to Abuja in August 2024 for documentation, with the expectation of being reabsorbed into the force. However, after completing the documentation, there has been no further response from the authorities.
The letter articulates their grievances: “We represent police officers from Courses 33, 34, and 35 of the Police Academy, writing this complaint to highlight the long-standing suffering caused by the police authorities’ inaction.”
The officers expressed their disappointment over the IGP’s failure to enforce the Industrial Court’s ruling in Suit No. NICN/ABJ/281/2021, which mandates that all affected officers have their appointment dates regularized.
“Our clients were hopeful when they received instructions to report to Abuja between August 12 and 16, 2024, for further documentation and to receive letters of posting to resume their duties and restore their salaries,” the letter concluded.
