EXCLUSIVE: Gbaja writes PSC, requests ‘special promotion’ for eight police officers attached to politicians
Femi Gbajabiamila, chief of staff to President Bola Tinubu, has asked the Police Service Commission (PSC) to grant special promotion to eight officers working with politicians, TheCable can report.
The requests, contained in two separate letters, raise legal and ethical concerns because the PSC Act vests promotion powers exclusively in the commission.
In one of the letters seen by TheCable, Gbajabiamila asked that the police grant “special promotion” to the “officers attached to the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria”.
One of the letters, dated February 20, 2026, contained the names of three officers, while the other had the names of five officers.
The request was to promote one officer from the rank of assistant commissioner of police (ACP) to deputy commissioner of police (DCP), and two others from chief superintendent of police (CSP) to assistant commissioner of police.
“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,” Gbajabiamila wrote.
“As I anticipate your expeditious consideration of the request, kindly accept the assurances of my highest esteem, please.”
REQUEST CONTRAVENES POLICE SERVICE COMMISSION ACT
TheCable understands that the move by the president’s chief of staff is against the provisions of the Police Service Commission (Establishment) Act of 2001.
According to section 6 of the act, the powers to promote across the force lies with the commission and not with any individual outside the commission.
“The Commission shall be responsible for the appointment and promotion of persons (other than the office of the Inspector-General of Police) in the Commission Nigeria Police Force,” the act reads.
“The Commission shall not be subject to the direction, control or supervision of any other authority or person in performance of its functions other than as is prescribed in this Act.”
While the act allows President Bola Tinubu, as commander-in-chief of the armed forces to give directives to the PSC, it limits that power to matters of policy.
“Subject to the provisions of this Act, the President may give the Commission directives of a general nature or relating generally to matters of policy with regard to the performance by the Commission of its functions, and it shall be the duty of the Commission to comply with the directives,” section 19 of the Act reads.
PROMOTING TINUBU’S MEN
The push for special police promotion is not new to the Tinubu administration. In January 2025, Nurudeen Yusuf, aide-de-camp (ADC) to President Tinubu, was promoted from lieutenant colonel to colonel.
By December, he was promoted again, to brigadier-general through “special presidential promotion”, before the intervention of two former chiefs of army staff.
TheCable reported the controversial plan to decorate him as a one-star general was shelved at the last minute to avoid further problems within the military rank and file.
A presidency source familiar with the matter told TheCable that the situation was becoming a pattern in the Tinubu administration.
“The president’s men are using their proximity to baba to get away with desecrating the military and police hierarchy, and if care is not taken, this may make a mess of the order within the armed forces,” the source said.
“In the past, I used to vouch that baba knows nothing about this, but with the drama that went on with his ADC, it became clear that he might just be looking away.
“You will expect that Tunji Disu, who promised his men improved welfare, will not approve this special promotion, but watch him dance to the tunes and pressure of our people. Once baba has spoken, who is Disu to drag his feet?”
SECURITY ISSUES AND OFFICERS’ MORALE
Another police officer familiar with the matter told TheCable that the special promotion plan may have negative ripple effects on those fighting insecurity.
“In Yobe, 17 police officers were killed; nobody from the villa called their families or went to pay condolence visits,” the officer said.
“In fact, the other police officers in that squad went on to fight Boko Haram the next day. Those ones don’t get special promotions; they don’t even get presidential handshakes, but the ones who salute the president, drive in AC vehicles, and eat presidential food get presidential promotions for enjoyment.
“If Tinubu continues like this, morale will be low, and men on the frontlines will have nothing to fight for again.”
He said promotion in the armed forces is inching closer to the exclusive preserve of godfathers and not meritorious service to Nigeria.
Source – https://www.thecable.ng/exclusive-gbaja-writes-psc-requests-special-promotion-for-eight-police-officers-attached-to-politicians/