President Bola Tinubu did not approve of Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun’s mandate extension, the Nigeria Police stated on Friday.
Instead, as required by law, the President approved the statute governing the office’s tenure, according to the police report.
Particularly after Egbetokun officially surpassed the obligatory retirement age of 60 on September 4, the IG’s prolonged tenure in office has generated intense controversy.
The Police Act states that after 35 years of service or when they turn 60, police officers are required to retire.
Though there was an attempt to change the Act’s retirement age for police personnel, it hasn’t totally happened yet.
Despite being approved by the National Assembly, Tinubu has not yet signed the measure.
Nonetheless, this gave rise to rumours that the president had prolonged the Inspector General’s term, with numerous accounts citing a correspondence from the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume.
Following a protracted period of quiet on the subject, the police announced in a statement through Force Spokesman Muyiwa Adejobi that the Inspector General’s appointment letter had granted him a four-year term beginning on the date of his appointment.
He continued by saying that this was in compliance with the terms of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) Constitution’s Third Schedule, specifically Sections 215(a) and 28(c).
Adejobi said, “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, and wishes to categorically state that what President Bola Tinubu 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.
“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).”
Adejobi stated that the IG does not need to lobby for any tenure extension as he has yet to use the years stated in his. appointment letter.
He said, “It is important to emphasize 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 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.”
The spokesman also stated that the IG had been given another letter in accordance with the provisions of the Police Act, 2020 (as amended), which supersedes his appointment letter.
He said, “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.
“We urge the public to disregard the unfounded reports and to trust that the tenure of the IGP is in full compliance with the laws governing the Nigeria Police Force. In clear terms, the IGP’s tenure of office is not subject to unnecessary debate and should not be a source of perennial distraction to the policing system in Nigeria. The law is sacrosanct.”