Senate passes bill to allow IGP complete four-year tenure

The Senate has passed the Police Act Amendment Bill, 2024, to guarantee a four-year tenure of office for new Inspectors General of Police (IGP).

This followed the amendment of the Police Act of 2020, sequel to a letter transmitted to the upper chamber on Tuesday by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Daily Trust reports that the bill also sought to increase the retirement age of police officers from 60 to 65 years and their tenure of service from 35 to 40 years.

It equally sought to guarantee the tenure of the IGP and revolutionise police operations by enhancing accountability, modernising policing methods and fostering a more harmonious relationship between the police and the communities.

The bill expeditiously scaled second and third readings on Tuesday during plenary and was passed by lawmakers in both green and red chambers. The upper and lower chambers passed the bill at separate sittings.

The police authorities had denied allegations that IGP Kayode Egbetokun attempted to influence the National Assembly to pass a bill seeking to raise the retirement age of officers.

Egbetokun was appointed by Tinubu in June 2023, and he is expected to stay in office for four years. He was appointed alongside four new service chiefs.

But in compliance with Section 18(8) of the Police Act 2020, Egbetokun, who was born on September 4, 1964, is supposed to retire in September 2024 at the age of 60.

A copy of the bill obtained by our correspondent showed that Section 18 of the Principal Act is amended by the addition of a new Sub-Section (8A).

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It reads, “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.”

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