Nigeria’s President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has approved a three-year tenure extension for Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun.
According to anonymous officials, Secretary to the Government of the Federation George Akume presented Egbetokun with the extension letter on Monday.
This development follows the Senate’s passage of a bill amending the Police Act 2020 on July 23, introducing a new clause under Section 8. This clause allows for extensions beyond the mandatory retirement age of 60 or 35 years of service.
Egbetokun, appointed IGP in June 2023, is set to turn 60 on September 4, 2024. The tenure extension ensures his continued leadership of the Nigeria Police Force.
The Senate had modified Section 18 of the Police Act 2020 by replacing subsection (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, 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 considering the fact that 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 the Nigeria’s number one police officer last year.
“We charge Mr. Egbetokun to take 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 relies more on the use of advanced security technologies and intelligence gathering rather than heavy man power.
