The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has clarified that the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun’s advocacy for the elongation of tenure of office stems from his steadfast commitment to reforming the Force and bolstering internal security nationwide.
The Force PRO, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, made the clarification in a statement on Monday, following allegations made against the police chief regarding the proposed amendment to the Nigeria Police Act 2020, which seeks to extend the years of service for Police officers from 35 to 40 years, and the age limit from 60 to 65 years.
Adejobi said the Force was irked by “the dissemination of false information across various media platforms, notably the distorted publication by Sahara Reporters” alleging the IGP personally initiated the bill to prolong his tenure as the 22nd indigenous Inspector General of Police, and has allegedly invested significantly in lobbying lawmakers to facilitate its passage.
The Force spokesman clarified unequivocally that the bill was originally introduced during the 8th Assembly but did not progress beyond the initial stages before the Assembly’s dissolution, adding that it is standard legislative practice to review and update laws to align with current national realities.
He revealed further that the true motivations behind the initiative, stemmed from Egbetokun’s belief in the bill’s potential to improve the conditions of service for police officers for a more effective Force, rather than seeking personal gain, adding that, “it comes from the place of duty rather than benefit”.
He therefore said it was “regrettable that certain media outlets and their sponsors have chosen to propagate baseless accusations, ignorantly disregarding the fact that any modification to existing legislation is designed to enhance its effectiveness and relevance”.
While noting that the tenure of an IGP is already prescribed as four years, with the President being the sole authority empowered to remove an IGP before the completion of his tenure, urged the public to exercise caution and discernment when consuming information, particularly from sources known for sensationalism and unverified claims, as “such misinformation not only misleads but also detracts from constructive dialogue and efforts towards meaningful police reform”.
He also public and strategic stakeholders to “disregard these falsehoods and instead lend their support to political and legislative endeavors aimed at improving police services and ensuring the safety and well-being of all Nigerian citizens”.
