Politics

Tinubu Proposes Amendment to Police Act Concerning IGP’s Tenure

Published by Tope Fakinlede on July 23rd, 2024.

Tinubu Proposes Amendment to Police Act Concerning IGP’s Tenure

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has introduced an executive bill to the House of Representatives, seeking to amend the Nigeria Police Act, in line with section 58 of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

The proposed amendment aims to modify the Police Act regarding the appointment and tenure of the Inspector General of Police (IGP).

The bill seeks to revise the Nigeria Police Act, 2020 (“Principal Act”) to allow the appointed IGP to remain in office until the end of the term specified in their appointment letter.

Specifically, the bill proposes adding a new subsection (8A) to Section 18 of the Principal Act: “(8A) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (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.”

While presenting the correspondence at plenary, Speaker Tajudeen Abbas said, “Here is another executive bill. The message reads as follows: ‘Transmission of Nigeria Police Act Amended Bill 2024.’

“In accordance with section 58 subsection 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 concerning the 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.”

The bill has passed its second reading and has been referred to the Committee on the Whole.

Currently, the Act requires that an officer considered for the position of IGP must have at least four years of service remaining. However, this requirement was not met in the appointment of the current IGP, Kayode Egbetokun, who is set to retire in a few months.