The extension of tenure of the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun has been approved by President Bola Tinubu.
The officials at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation who requested anonymity, disclosed that the IGP’s tenure was extended by three years and that the SGF, George Akume, gave the IGP the letter of his tenure extension on Monday.
A senior security officer at the SGF Office also confirmed that the IGP received his letter of tenure extension from Akume on Monday morning.
The Senate had, on July 23, passed a bill that amended the Police Act 2020 introducing a new clause under Section 8, which contradicts the provision that mandates public servants to retire after 35 years of service or at 60 years of age.
Egbetokun, who was appointed IGP in June 2023, will clock 60 tomorrow (September 4, 2024).
The Senate had modified Section 18 of the Police Act 2020 by replacing sub section (8) with the following revised clause:
“(8) Notwithstanding any other provision, every police officer shall serve in the Nigeria Police Force for 40 years or until they reach the age of 65, whichever comes first.”
Executive Director, of the Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED), Ibrahim Zikirullahi, said when viewed from the point of the Nigeria Police Act, one can say the extension of IGP Egbetokun is in order, especially because he was appointed barely over a year ago.
“However, while his appointment cannot be faulted on the above basis, we expect the Inspector-General to see the extension of his tenure to urgently commence the extensive reforms of the police he promised to carry out during his inaugural speech upon assumption of office as Nigeria’s number one police officer last year.
“We charge Mr. Egbetokun to take an urgent look into the welfare and condition of service of officers and men of the force, as a hungry police officer with AK 47 riffles on the street is a potential threat to the lives and wellbeing of the citizens.
“The issues of endemic corruption, indiscipline and lack of professionalism in the force, which has eroded public confidence of the citizens in the ability officers and men of the force to protect the lives and property of Nigerians also needs to be given urgent attention,” Zikirullahi said.
He said that IGP Egbetokun also needs to consider embracing modern policing principles, which rely more on the use of advanced security technologies and intelligence gathering rather than heavy manpower.
