Egbetokun may stay as IGP beyond Sept as n’assembly amends Police Act

The national assembly has passed a bill seeking to allow the inspector-general of police (IGP) to remain in office “until the end of the term stipulated in his appointment letter”.

The bill passed first, second, and third readings at the senate and house of representatives on Tuesday.

The bill was passed by both chambers without opposition.

The executive bill seeks to amend section 18 of the Police Act 2020 to allow an officer appointed as the IGP to serve beyond the current limit of 35 years in service or the age of 60.

Section 18(8) of the Act states that “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”.

Meanwhile, section 7 (6) of the Police Act states that the IGP shall serve a tenure of four years.

“The person appointed to the office of the Inspector-General of Police shall hold office for four years,” the section reads.

The bill proposes to create a new section 18(8A) to enable the IGP to stay longer than 35 years in service and 60 years of age, whichever comes first.

“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,” the bill reads.

Leading the debate on the bill, Julius Ihonvbere, the majority leader of the house of representatives, said the proposed law will ensure the continuity of the tenure of the IGP.

“This is to prevent the constant rollover before the expiration of the tenure of the IG,” he said.

“It does not affect the other parts of the tenure of the IGP. It is to say that the tenure lasts as it is stipulated in the letter of appointment.”

If the bill is signed into law, Kayode Egbetokun, the IGP, may stay in office beyond September 2024, when he will reach the age of 60.

Egbetokun was born on September 4, 1964.

President Bola Tinubu appointed Egbetokun as IGP on June 19, 2023.

Previous IGPs have tried to extend their time in office but have been unsuccessful.

In May 2023, a federal high court in Anambra ordered Usman Baba, a former IGP, to stop parading himself as Nigeria’s police chief.

Fatun Riman, the presiding judge, held that Baba’s continued stay in office after clocking the retirement age of 60 was illegal and unconstitutional.

The judge held that as a staff of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), an authority established under section 214(1) of the constitution, Baba was bound by Rule 229 of the Police Service Rules, which provided for the compulsory retirement of all grades of public service officers at the age of 60 or 35 years of service—whichever comes first.