Senate Approves Bill to Give IGP Full Four-Year Term

Senate Approves Bill to Give IGP Full Four-Year Term

Vaseline

  • The Senate has passed the bill to amend the Police Act, guaranteeing a four-year term of office for newly appointed inspectors general of police
  • The bill proposes to increase the retirement age of police officers from 60 to 65 and extend their service

The Senate has passed the Police Act Amendment Bill, 2024, which guarantees a four-year term for newly appointed Inspectors General of Police (IGP). The amendment follows a letter handed to the Senate by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday.

The bill also proposes to raise the retirement age of police officers from 60 to 65 and extend their service time from 35 to 40. It is intended to increase police accountability, modernize policing methods and promote a more harmonious relationship between police and communities.

The bill swiftly passed second and third readings during Tuesday’s plenary session and was approved by lawmakers in both the Senate and the House of Representatives. Police authorities have denied allegations that IGP Kayode Egbetokun attempted to influence the National Assembly to pass the bill.

Egbetokun, appointed by Tinubu in June 2023, is expected to serve a four-year term. According to Section 18(8) of the Police Act 2020, Egbetokun, born on September 4, 1964, was to retire in September 2024 at the age of 60. However, the new amendment contains a provision that overrides this section, allowing the IGP to serve the full term specified in the letter of appointment.

The Bill amends Section 18 of the Principal Act by adding a new sub-section (8A) which states: “Notwithstanding the provisions of sub-section (8) of this Section, a person appointed to the office of Inspector-General of Police shall continue in office until the end of the term specified in the letter of appointment, in accordance with the provisions of Section 7(6) of this Act.”