Police: Tinubu didn’t extend Egbetokun’s tenure — IGP appointment lasts for four years

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) says President Bola Tinubu did not extend the tenure of Kayode Egbetokun, the inspector-general of police (IGP).

In a statement on Friday, Muyiwa Adejobi, force spokesperson, said the IGP’s appointment is for four years.

Adejobi said Tinubu’s recent decision on Egbetokun’s tenure is the “proper application of the law governing the tenure of the office of the IGP”.

BACKGROUND

On June 19, 2023, Tinubu appointed Egbetokun as IGP to replace Usman Baba.

According to section 7 of the Police Act 2020, the person appointed to the office of the IGP shall hold the office for four years.

But Egbetokun, who was born on September 4, 1964, was expected to retire on September 4, 2024, when he would have been 60 years old.

Section 18(8) of the Act, which makes direct reference to the civil service rule on retirement, 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.”

In July, the national assembly hurriedly passed a bill seeking to allow the IGP to remain in office “until the end of the term stipulated in his appointment letter”.

The executive bill sought 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.

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.

Since the passage of the bill in July, there has been no announcement from the presidency on the signing of the legislation by Tinubu.

The development has elicited speculations that Egbetokun would retire after his 60th birthday.

However, Channels Television reported that sources said Tinubu had approved that Egbetokun should remain in office until 2027 in line with his four-year tenure.

Usman Baba, Egbetokun’s immediate predecessor, also faced the same fate in March 2023, when he clocked 60 years old and attained the mandatory 35 years of service.

Despite the controversy over tenure extension, Baba remained in office after he turned 60 until Tinubu appointed Egbetokun as his replacement.

‘IGP’S TENURE SHOULDN’T BE SUBJECTED TO UNNECESSARY DEBATE’

Adejobi said Egbetokun does not need to lobby for a tenure extension, noting that his appointment is for four years.

The force spokesperson said the tenure of the IGP should not be subjected to “unnecessary debate”.

“The attention of the Nigeria Police Force has been drawn to various misleading reports and misinterpretations concerning the tenure of the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM, and wishes to categorically state that what His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, 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 statement reads.

“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.

“Furthermore, the IGP has since been issued with another letter in accordance with the provisions of the Police Act, 2020 (as amended), which supersedes the earlier correspondence.

“This clarification is necessary to put an end to the speculations and falsehoods being spread.”