Court judgment: IGP orders 475 reinstated police officers to undergo six-month induction in Jos

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) has directed the immediate mobilisation of 475 police officers reinstated by the National Industrial Court to report at the Police Staff College, Jos, Plateau State, for a mandatory six-month induction course as part of the process of their reintegration into the Nigeria Police Force.

The directive followed the implementation of the judgment of the National Industrial Court in Suit No. NICN/ABJ/28/2025, which nullified the compulsory retirement of the affected officers and ordered their reinstatement.

The directive was conveyed in a confidential signal referenced CH:8400/FS/FHQ/ABJ/VOL.2/238, dated July 31, 2026, and signed by the Force Secretary, Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) Bode Akinbamilowo, on behalf of the Inspector-General of Police.

The signal was addressed to all Assistant Inspectors-General of Police in charge of zonal commands, Commissioners of Police in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, as well as the Commandant of the Police Staff College, Jos.

According to the Force Headquarters, the affected officers were among those previously retired pursuant to the decision of the Police Service Commission (PSC) reached at its First Extraordinary Meeting held on January 31, 2025, on the regularisation of the dates of first appointment of Assistant Superintendents of Police (ASPs) and Inspector Force Entrants.

However, their retirement was subsequently reversed in compliance with the judgment of the National Industrial Court, necessitating their formal reintegration into active service through the induction programme.

The IGP directed all police commands and formations nationwide to immediately locate, notify and ensure that the affected officers report to the Police Staff College, Jos, within the approved timeline.

The signal indicated that arrival and documentation of participants commenced on August 1 and will end on August 16, 2026, while the six-month induction course is scheduled to run from August 17, 2026, to February 16, 2027.

It further directed the Commandant of the Police Staff College to forward returns of all officers successfully documented for the induction exercise on or before August 24, 2026, warning that lateness would not be tolerated.

"The Inspector-General of Police firmly directs you to locate and warn the affected officers whose details are annexed herewith to report at the Police Staff College, Jos, for a six-month induction course," the signal stated.

Copies of the directive were also forwarded to the Deputy Inspectors-General of Police in charge of Finance and Administration, Operations, Logistics and Supply, Investigation, Training and Development, Research and Planning, Information and Communication Technology, Intelligence, as well as the Police Accounts and Budget Department, with a mandate to take all necessary measures to ensure a hitch-free induction exercise.

The induction programme is expected to complete the process of restoring the 475 officers to active service in compliance with the court judgment, bringing to a close the legal dispute arising from the Police Service Commission's 2025 decision on the harmonisation of service records and dates of first appointment.