The Police Force has admitted to the extension of the tenure of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun in office by President Bola Tinubu, pursuant to the amended Nigeria Police Act 2020 (“Principal Act”).
The Police disclosed this in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi on Friday, clarifying the reports of a letter issued to the IGP last week, approving his continuous stay despite reaching the statutory age of retirement, 60, on September 4.
According to reports, the presidency had issued the IGP a letter confirming an additional three years in service in tandem with Section 18 of the Principal Act, unanimously amended by the two chambers, in July.
However, the police on Friday reacted, saying that “What His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approved for the IGP is not an extension of tenure, but rather the proper application of the law governing the tenure of the office of the IGP.”
The police further noted that “Contrary to the misinformation being circulated on social media and in the news, an appointment letter in circulation was issued to the IGP shortly after his appointment was confirmed by the Police Council.
“This letter, dated 3rd November 2023, clearly stated that the President had approved a four-year tenure for the IGP in accordance with the provisions of Section 215(a) and Section 28(c) of the Third Schedule of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).
“It is important to emphasise that the IGP does not need to lobby for any tenure extension as his appointment letter explicitly grants him a four-year tenure from the date of his appointment.
“The ongoing circulation of false information is clearly the handiwork of pessimists and mischief makers who are determined to spread baseless narratives against the office and the personality of the IGP for obvious reasons and pecuniary gains.”
The police said it is pertinent to clarify the falsehood, urging the public to disregard the “unfounded reports and to trust that the tenure of the IGP is in full compliance with the laws governing the Nigeria Police Force.”
The police added, “In clear terms, IGP’s tenure of office is not subject to unnecessary debate and should not be a source of perennial distraction to policing system in Nigeria. The law is sacrosanct.”
Recall in July, the National Assembly passed an executive bill seeking the amendment of the Nigeria Police Act 2020, in relation to the appointment and tenure of the office of the IGP.
The bill which speedily scaled the second and third readings in the upper chamber, was also sent to the House of Representatives for amendment of the Nigeria Police Act, 2020 (“Principal Act”).
The bill sought to guarantee the tenure of the IGP and revolutionise police operations by enhancing accountability, modernising policing methods and fostering a more harmonious relationship between the police and the community.
Tinubu had sent the executive bill seeking to guarantee the tenure of the IGP, enabling the person appointed as IGP to remain in office until the end of the term stipulated in the letter of appointment, in pursuance of Section 7 (6) of the Police Act of 2020.
Section 7 (6) of the Police Act of 2020 states: “The person appointed to the office of the Inspector-General of Police shall hold office for four years.”
The executive bill, however, sought that Section 18 of the Principal Act be amended by adding a new subsection (8A) – “(8A) Notwithstanding the provisions of sub-section (8) of this section, any person appointed to the office of Inspector-General of Police shall remain in office until the end of the term stipulated in the letter of appointment in line with the provisions of Section 7(6) of this Act”.
But Section 18(8) of the Police Act 2020, which makes direct reference to the civil service rule on retirement, states: “Every police officer shall, on recruitment or appointment, serve in the Nigeria Police Force for a period of 35 years or until he attains the age of 60 years, whichever is earlier.”
Egbetokun, who was the principal officer of the president when he was governor of Lagos State, was appointed as IGP in June 2023, barely two years before he clocks 60 on September 4, 2024.
Born on September 4, 1964, the IGP was enlisted into the Nigeria Police on March 3, 1990.
Consequently, Egbetokun would have completed 35 years of active service by March 2025.
IGP Egbetokun Did Not Lobby For Tenure Extension – Police is first published on The Whistler Newspaper