In an effort to alter the Nigeria Police Act in conformity with Section 58 of the 1999 Constitution as amended, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu sent an Executive Bill to the House of Representatives on Tuesday.
It was learned that the proposal aims to change the Police Act regarding the designation and term of the Inspector General of Police, or IGP.
In order to allow the individual designated as the IGP to hold office until the conclusion of the time specified in the appointment letter, the bill aims to alter the Nigeria Police Act, 2020 (the “Principal Act”).
“The bill seeks that Section 18 of the Principal Act is amended by adding a new subsection (8A) – “(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.
“Here is another executive bill. The message reads as follows: “Transmission of Nigeria Police Act Amended Bill 2024,” the House Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, said while reading the correspondence at plenary.
Tinubu’s letter read, “”Function to Section 58 sub section 2 of the Federal Constitution of Nigeria as amended I forward here the above bill for consideration and passage by the House of Representatives.
“The Nigeria Police Amended bill 2024 seeks to amend the Nigeria Police Act 2020 with respect to appointment and tenure of the Inspector General of Police and related matters.
“While hoping that the House of Representatives will consider this submission in its usual expeditious manner, please accept, RT Honorable Speaker, the assurances of my highest consideration.”
After passing for a second reading, the bill was referred to the Committee on the Whole.
As of right now, the Act stipulates that an officer must have served for at least four years in order to be considered for the position of Inspector General of Police.
But when appointing Kayode Egbetokun as the present IGP, the President did not take that into account.
It is claimed that Egbetokun would retire in a few months.
