Some officers at the Railway Police Command, Ebute Metta, Lagos State, have alleged that their approved transfers to the Ogun State police command have been stalled, leaving them uncertain about when they can resume at their new postings.
The affected officers, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of possible reprisals, alleged that despite obtaining posting approvals from the appropriate administrative authorities, the Commissioner of Police in charge of the Railway Command, CP Adekunle Lasisi, had yet to sign their release signals to enable them to move to the Ogun State command.
The officers, who cut across different ranks, said they had served at the Railway Command for several years and applied for transfers through established police administrative procedures.
According to them, their requests were motivated by personal and professional considerations, including proximity to their families, health concerns and career progression.
“Many of us applied for transfers to the Ogun State command due to proximity to our families, health considerations, and general career progression.
“The posting orders came through, but the CP has simply refused to minute on them or release us. It feels like an unjust detention within a command,” one senior inspector said.
Another affected officer alleged that the delay had raised concerns about fairness, claiming that some personnel whose applications were submitted later had their postings processed without similar difficulties.
“We have met all statutory requirements for reassignment. Holding back our release signals without clear official reasons is demoralising and counterproductive to the operational efficiency of the Force,” the officer lamented.
The affected officers appealed to the Inspector-General of Police and the Police Service Commission to intervene and examine the circumstances surrounding the delay.
They held that prolonged delays in implementing approved postings could undermine personnel welfare and create resentment among officers responsible for maintaining security along the nation’s railway corridors.
When contacted, the commissioner said the delay was linked to manpower shortages and the failure of officers posted to replace the affected personnel to report for duty.
Speaking over the telephone, the commissioner acknowledged that the postings had been approved but said he could not release the officers without adequate replacements to sustain operations at the Railway command.
He also said he had written to Force Headquarters on several occasions to explain the challenges, adding that the situation had sometimes resulted in salary stoppages for officers who failed to report to their assigned posts.
“That is how I met it. I even met people who have been transferred since 2024. Their former CP before me. They couldn’t release them.
“Because when we release everybody, we don’t have anybody to work with to replace them. We don’t have anybody to work with,” Lasisi said.
The commissioner further explained that he had taken steps to address the issue involving officers who allegedly failed to report to their new stations.
“When I came, I did something. Those who refused to report for duty, I compiled their names and forwarded them to the Force Headquarters for appropriate action.
“At the end of the day, when they knew that their salary had been stopped, they were now running up and down. At the end, they ran to me again.
“I will take action against those people who have not reported, because I am still waiting,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Ogun State Police Command said transfers and redeployments within the Nigeria Police Force were governed by established administrative procedures and relevant regulations.
The command’s Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Babaseyi Oluseyi, said such movements originated from Force Headquarters in Abuja under the authority of the Inspector-General of Police.
“Such movements originate directly from the Force Headquarters in Abuja under the authority of the Inspector-General of Police,” Oluseyi said.
Reacting to suggestions that the transfers had been delayed because officers expected to replace the affected personnel at the Railway Command had failed to report, Oluseyi said any administrative action would have to be based on verifiable documentation.
“Unsubstantiated claims or verbal assertions cannot form the basis of formal administrative intervention within the Force structure,” he said.
He added that because redeployments involving different commands fell under the jurisdiction of Force Headquarters, complaints concerning delayed release signals and officers who allegedly failed to report for duty should be directed to the Force Public Relations Officer for investigation and resolution.
“The Ogun State Police Command remains committed to operational efficiency, professional discipline, and the welfare of officers, and we advise all aggrieved personnel and media practitioners to utilise established administrative channels to address transfer disputes,” Oluseyi added.
Efforts to obtain an official response from the Force Public Relations Officer, Anietie Iniedu, were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.
Calls and messages sent to his phone were neither picked up nor responded to.