The House of Representatives has approved a bill that could extend the tenure of the current Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, beyond the dictates of public service rules.
The bill, sponsored by President Tajudeen Abbas and Chairman of the House Committee on Police Affairs, Abubakar Yalleman, seeks to amend Section 18 of the Police Act by creating a new subsection that guarantees a four-year tenure for Police Inspectors, regardless of public service rules.
Speaker of the 10th Assembly, Tajudeen Abbas. [PHOTO CREDIT: House of Representatives, Federal Republic of Nigeria]
The amendment aims to allow Inspectors General of Police (IGPs) to serve beyond the current limits of 35 years of service or the age of 60 years.
In the Principal Act, Section 18(8) states: “Every police officer, upon recruitment or appointment, shall serve in the Nigeria Police Force for a period of 35 years or until he attains the age of 60 years, whichever is earlier.”
However, Article 7 of the Police Law provides that the Inspector General shall have a four-year term.
In the approved bill, lawmakers seek to create a new Section 18(8A) that gives Health Inspectors General special rights in the civil service and enforces Section 7 of the Act.
“Notwithstanding anything contained in 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 period stipulated in the letter of appointment in accordance with the provisions of Section 7(6) of this Act,” the bill reads.
Article page with promotion of financial support
Leading the debate on the proposed amendment, Majority Leader Julius Ihonvbere said the bill seeks to ensure continuity of mandate.
“This is to prevent the IG’s mandate from being constantly renewed before it expires. It does not affect the other parts of the IGP’s mandate. It means that the mandate lasts as long as stipulated in the letter of appointment,” said Mr. Ihonvbere.
The bill was examined by the Committee of the Whole and approved without any opposition.
It was subsequently approved for a third reading and will be transmitted to the Senate for approval.
It is unclear whether the Senate will follow the House's lead, as the amendment must be approved by both chambers and signed by the president to become law.
Implications of the legislation
Mr Egbetokun, who was appointed by President Bola Tinubu in June 2023, is expected to retire in September 2024 when he attains the retirement age of 60 years. He was born on September 4, 1964.
President Bola Tinubu [PHOTO CREDIT: @FMINONigeria]If the bill clears the Senate hurdle and the president signs it into law, Egbetokun could remain in office until June 2027 unless the president removes him.
In the past, other police inspectors have attempted to enforce Section 7 of the Police Act, but have failed.
In 2021, former Inspector General Mohammed Adamu attempted to take advantage of the law to extend his tenure.
Mr Adamu argued in a case before the Federal High Court that Nigeria's new Police Act gave him a four-year term that would only expire in 2024.
High Court of the Federal Capital Territory
According to him, his tenure would expire in 2023, if counting from 2019 when he was appointed IGP, or in 2024, if counting from 2020 when the new Nigeria Police Act came into effect.
Former President Muhammadu Buhari gave the then Inspector General a three-month extension but later sacked him before the term expired following protests by civil society organisations.