HUNDEYIN PROMOTION PUTS SPOTLIGHT ON PSC’s 26,000-OFFICER EXERCISE

The Police Service Commission’s (PSC) approval of the promotion of 26,119 Inspectors of Police to the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police II (ASP II) has drawn both commendation and scrutiny, as fresh questions emerge over transparency and consistency in the Nigeria Police Force’s promotion process.

The nationwide promotion exercise, one of the largest in recent years, was approved following a recommendation by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun.

The promotion communicated in a PSC letter dated January 29, 2026, was circulated to formations across the country.

The wireless message, issued from the Nigeria Police Force Secretariat in Abuja, stated that the promotions were carried out in line with the PSC’s statutory powers over police appointments and promotions.

Officers affected were elevated from the rank of Inspector to ASP II, with official gazette notifications and Force Order publications expected to follow.

The directive was transmitted to all police departments, commands, zones, training institutions and specialised units nationwide, including the Force Headquarters, the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), Interpol, Mobile Police units, Counter-Terrorism formations and the Police Air Wing.

While the scale of the exercise has been widely described as a morale booster for rank-and-file officers, the promotions have also reignited long-standing concerns within the force over fairness, seniority and adherence established promotion guidelines.

A review of the promotion list shows thousands of officers benefiting from the exercise, including Ukurodo Angbianhenba, Adedeye Is-haq, Lyba Nantim, Hamidu Adamu, Andrew Saul, and several others across commands nationwide.

However, sources within the Force say the mass promotion has drawn renewed attention to what they describe as a growing perception of uneven application of promotion criteria, especially at senior levels.

At the centre of the controversy is the recent elevation of the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Ben Hundeyin, from Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) to Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), a move critics argue raises questions about seniority and procedural consistency.

Hundeyin’s promotion, announced earlier in the week, was approved on the recommendation of the IGP. He was appointed FPRO in 2025 while serving as a CSP, succeeding Deputy Commissioner of Police Olumuyiwa Adejobi.

While the Nigeria Police Force has not publicly addressed concerns surrounding the promotion sequence, internal debates have intensified, with some officers alleging that merit-based advancement is increasingly being overshadowed by discretion and influence.

The PSC has yet to issue a detailed breakdown of the criteria applied in the promotions or address the allegations of irregularity.

Analysts say greater transparency will be required to sustain confidence in the institution, particularly at a time when the Force is seeking public trust and internal cohesion.

As official gazette publications are awaited, observers say the promotions; though historic in scale, have once again exposed fault lines within the Nigeria Police Force’s promotion framework.