The National Assembly yesterday passed an executive bill to amend the Nigeria Police Act 2020, particularly concerning the appointment and tenure of the Inspector General of Police (IGP).
This bill, which swiftly passed the second and third readings in the Senate on Tuesday, has been forwarded to the House of Representatives for further consideration.
The bill aims to ensure the tenure of the IGP, modernize police operations, enhance accountability, and foster better relations between the police and the community.
President Bola Tinubu initiated the bill to guarantee that the IGP remains in office until the end of the term specified in their appointment letter, as stipulated in Section 7(6) of the Police Act 2020. This section currently states, “The person appointed to the office of the Inspector-General of Police shall hold office for four years.”
The executive bill proposes an amendment to Section 18 of the Principal Act by adding a new subsection (8A): “Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (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.”
Currently, Section 18(8) of the Police Act 2020, which refers 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.”
IGP Egbetokun, appointed in June 2023, will turn 60 on September 4, 2024. He was enlisted into the Nigeria Police on March 3, 1990, and would complete 35 years of active service by March 2025. Should President Tinubu sign the amended tenure bill into law, IGP Egbetokun would remain in office beyond the civil service rule’s retirement age.
This legislative change would allow the current IGP to serve his full term as specified in the new amendment, thereby overriding the standard retirement provisions of the civil service. PlatinumPost
