The Nigeria Police have clarified that President Bola Tinubu did not extend the tenure of Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, amid growing speculation following his reaching the mandatory retirement age of 60 on September 4.
In a statement issued on Friday, the police noted that President Tinubu upheld the existing laws governing the Inspector General’s office, as required by the constitution.
The controversy arose due to reports that suggested Tinubu had granted a tenure extension to Egbetokun, particularly after a letter from the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, was circulated.
The police, however, stated that Egbetokun’s appointment letter already grants him a four-year term, starting from the date of his appointment.
This was confirmed by Force Spokesman, Muyiwa Adejobi, who explained that the appointment adheres to the provisions of Section 215(a) and Section 28(c) of the Third Schedule of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution (as amended).
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.”
The retirement of police officers, according to the Police Act, is set at either the age of 60 or after 35 years of service. While there has been a push to amend the retirement age within the Police Act, the proposed changes have not been fully enacted. Though the National Assembly passed the bill, it has yet to be signed into law by President Tinubu.
This delay in amending the retirement age fueled speculation, but the police have now confirmed that there is no extension to the IG’s tenure beyond what is already outlined by law.
