According to a confidential wireless message sighted by KogiTribune, the directive specifically instructs officers in charge to compile and forward the names of all personnel with advanced academic qualifications, particularly PhDs, to Force Headquarters. The lists are to be submitted in both hard and soft copies for official records.
In addition to doctoral degrees, the Force has also demanded copies of approval letters granted for officers’ study leave, as well as certificates for first degrees, master’s degrees, and PhDs. This requirement is aimed at authenticating the academic claims of officers and ensuring that all qualifications obtained were approved in line with police service regulations.
A senior police source told KogiTribune that the exercise is part of a broader effort by the Inspector-General of Police to “sanitize records and prevent cases of falsification, unapproved study programs, and discrepancies in promotions linked to academic qualifications.”
The directive has raised mixed reactions within the Force. While some officers see it as a step toward accountability and standardization, others believe it could expose past irregularities in how certain officers acquired and used academic qualifications to fast-track their career advancement.
Observers note that the order may also be linked to ongoing reforms within the Police aimed at professionalising the institution and aligning it with global best practices, where academic achievement complements operational competence.
Force Public Relations sources, however, have yet to make an official comment on the development.
If fully implemented, this directive could reshape internal promotion dynamics in the Nigerian Police, placing emphasis on verifiable academic records alongside years of service and performance.
