President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has sent an executive bill to the House of Representatives, seeking to amend the Nigeria Police Act in accordance with Section 58 of the 1999 Constitution as amended. The bill aims to alter the Police Act regarding the appointment and tenure of the Inspector General of Police (IGP).
Key Provisions of the Bill
The bill seeks to amend the Nigeria Police Act, 2020, to enable the IGP to remain in office until the end of the term stipulated in their letter of appointment. Specifically, it proposes adding a new subsection (8A) to Section 18 of the Principal Act, stating:
“(8A) 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.”
Current Status of the Bill
The bill has been read at plenary and passed for a second reading, with the Committee on the Whole tasked with reviewing it.
Background and Implications
The current Nigeria Police Act requires an officer considered for the position of IGP to have at least four years of service remaining. However, President Tinubu’s recent appointment of Kayode Egbetokun as IGP, who is due for retirement in a few months, did not take this provision into account. The proposed amendment seeks to address this issue and provide clarity on the tenure of the IGP.