The National Assembly on Tuesday amended the Police Act, 2020 to guarantee a fixed four-year term for the seat of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP).
The new amendment provides that an occupant of the office will serve his tenure out, irrespective of age or length of service.
This implies that if a serving IGP turns 60 years of age or has spent 35 years in service, he will not vacate the seat until he has completed his four years, except otherwise decided by the appointing authority.
How does this affect the current IGP, Kayode Egbetokun?
He assumed the office in June 2023 and will turn 60 on September 4, 2024, when he would have bowed out but for the new amendment to the Act.
If signed into law by President Bola Tinubu, it means that Egbetokun will automatically continue in office beyond September 4.
The provision is contained in Section 7 (6) of the 2020 Act, which has been altered by a new subsection (8A) in Section 18, thereby extending Egbetokun’s tenure with the full backing of the law.
However, the other side to it is that the career progression of many other senior officers who may turn 60 or serve 35 years in service will be scuttled.
Many potential IGP candidates may never climb the seat before they exit the service, while their senior is still sitting as the IGP.
