National Assembly passes bill allowing Egbetokun to stay beyond Sept

The National Assembly has passed a bill permitting the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) to remain in office until the end of the term specified in their appointment letter, irrespective of age or years of service.

On Tuesday, the bill swiftly passed its first, second, and third readings in both the Senate and the House of Representatives without opposition.

The executive bill aims to amend Section 18 of the Police Act 2020, allowing the IGP to serve beyond the current 35-year service limit or the age of 60.

Section 18(8) of the Act currently stipulates that every police officer must retire after 35 years of service or upon reaching 60 years of age, whichever comes first.

In contrast, Section 7(6) of the Police Act mandates that the IGP serves a tenure of four years. The proposed bill seeks to introduce a new Section 18(8A), enabling the IGP to remain in office for the full term specified in the appointment letter, regardless of existing retirement provisions.

“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 states.

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Leading the debate, Julius Ihonvbere, Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, emphasized that the proposed law aims to ensure continuity in the IGP’s tenure.

“This is to prevent the constant rollover before the expiration of the tenure of the IG,” Ihonvbere explained. “It does not affect the other parts of the tenure of the IGP. It is to say that the tenure lasts as it is stipulated in the letter of appointment.”

If signed into law, the current IGP, Kayode Egbetokun, may remain in office beyond September 2024, when he will reach the age of 60. Egbetokun, born on September 4, 1964, was appointed as IGP by President Bola Tinubu on June 19, 2023.

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Historically, previous IGPs have unsuccessfully attempted to extend their time in office.

In May 2023, a Federal High Court in Anambra ordered former IGP Usman Baba to cease parading himself as Nigeria’s police chief, ruling that his continued stay in office after reaching the retirement age of 60 was illegal and unconstitutional.

The presiding judge, Fatun Riman, held that Baba, as a staff member of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), was bound by Rule 229 of the Police Service Rules, which mandates the compulsory retirement of all public service officers at the age of 60 or after 35 years of service, whichever comes first.