Your Jobs Are Safe, State Police Won’t Scrap Federal Force – IGP Disu Assures Personnel

June 16, () — The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has assured officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force that their jobs, ranks, pensions and career prospects remain secure despite ongoing moves to establish state police, insisting that the proposed reform will not lead to the scrapping of the federal police structure.

Disu gave the assurance on Monday while addressing officers and personnel of the force in Dutse, Jigawa State, amid growing anxiety within policing circles over recent legislative discussions surrounding the decentralisation of policing in Nigeria.

The police chief acknowledged that discussions around state police have generated widespread debate in recent weeks, particularly among officers worried about possible job losses, cancellation of ranks, pension uncertainty and the future of the existing national police institution.

Addressing those fears directly, the IGP said there was no reason for panic.

“The creation of state police does not mean the abolition of the Nigeria Police Force. It does not mean the cancellation of your rank, the loss of your employment, the forfeiture of your pensions, or the erosion of your accrued rights and benefits. Your future remains protected”, Disu told the officers.

According to him, the proposed reform is designed to strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture by creating additional policing structures closer to local communities while preserving a strong national policing institution capable of tackling interstate, national and transnational security threats.

He explained that under the proposed framework, the Nigeria Police Force would evolve into what would be known as the Federal Police Service, a move he described as a strategic restructuring rather than a dismantling of the existing institution.

“The development should not be seen as a weakening of the institution. Rather, it is a strategic repositioning that would enable the force to focus more effectively on its national mandate”, he said.

Disu further reassured officers that critical structures and specialised operational capabilities that have defined the police force over the years would remain intact under the new arrangement.

He specifically listed formations such as the Police Mobile Force, Counter-Terrorism Unit, Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT), Anti-Bomb Squad, Vehicle Crime Recovery Unit (VCRU), INTERPOL desk operations, Cybercrime Unit and other strategic security assets as units that would continue operating under the proposed Federal Police Service.

“These units will continue to provide the specialised capabilities required to address terrorism, organised crime, cyber threats, interstate criminality and other complex security challenges”, he stated.

The IGP also assured officers that the reform process is intended to expand professional opportunities rather than reduce them, stressing that no officer would be forced to leave the federal policing structure. He disclosed that any movement of personnel into future state police formations would be done through a Voluntary Transfer Programme (VTP), allowing officers to choose whether to remain in the Federal Police Service or move to state police institutions when operational.

“The guiding principle behind the VTP is simple: choice, fairness and transparency. Officers who wish to remain within the Federal Police Service will continue their careers there, while those interested in serving within emerging state police services can indicate their interest through clearly defined processes when the time comes”, he explained.

Disu maintained that officers’ welfare packages, pension rights, professional standing, career progression and all legitimate benefits would remain fully protected throughout the transition process. He added that police leadership would continue engaging relevant authorities and stakeholders to ensure every decision taken during the reform process reflects the best interests of personnel who have spent decades serving the country.

“Many of you have devoted decades of your lives to this institution. You have served in difficult terrains, confronted dangerous criminals and made enormous sacrifices in service to our nation”, he added.

The police boss urged officers to remain focused and avoid being distracted by rumours, speculation and misinformation surrounding the state police debate.

“Whatever shape the future architecture of policing takes, professionalism, discipline, integrity and commitment to service will remain the defining qualities of a successful police officer.”

Earlier, the Commissioner of Police in Jigawa State, Haruna Yahaya, commended the IGP for the visit, describing it as a demonstration of effective leadership, commitment to personnel welfare and operational efficiency within the force.

Represented by senior officer Abdullahi Wase, Yahaya noted that Jigawa remains one of Nigeria’s most peaceful states, attributing the achievement to collaboration among security agencies, support from traditional and religious institutions and cooperation from residents. He pledged the command’s continued loyalty and commitment to implementing the policing agenda of the force.

The event featured an interactive question-and-answer session between the police hierarchy and personnel.

Disu was in Jigawa to attend the 8th Executive Committee Meeting of the Northern Traditional Rulers Council, themed “Peace, Unity and Development of the North.”