***Paves way for IGP Egbekun to remain in office till 2027
The Senate has expeditiously considered and passed for Third Reading a bill to Amend the Police Act, 2020, clandestinely extending the tenure of the Inspector General-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun in office.
Contrary to the Principal Act of 2020 which stipulates a four-year tenure for an IG, the amendment bill seeks to retain any person appointed into the office of the IGP to remain in office until the end of the term stipulated in the letter of appointment.
Prompted by a letter from President Bola Tinubu, the Senate sprung into action on Tuesday and with the speed of light considered and passed for third reading the President’s bill that seeks to amend the Police Act 2020.
In his lead debate, Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele explained that the proposed legislation seeks to retain a person appointed to the office of Inspector-General of Police to remain in office until the end of the term stipulated in the letter of appointment.
To achieve this, the Senate retained Section 18 of the Principal Act 2020, but inserted a new subsection 8A that makes it mandatory for the IGP to spend 4 years in office, notwithstanding if he has attained retirement age of 60 or has spent 35 years in service as enshrined in the Civil Service rules
If passed into law, the current Inspector -General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun will be the chief beneficiary.
Egbetokun who was appointed by President Bola Tinubu in 2023 is expected to retire from the Nigeria Police Force on September 4, 2024.
With this amendment, Egbetokun can now remain in office until 2027.
In his contribution, Senator Seriake Dickson said that the proposed amendment runs contrary to the constitution and asked that the bill should be stepped down for further consultations.
The Senate shunned all attempts to stop the bill, passing it first, second and third reading in less than 20 minutes.