Some retired officers of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) have raised concerns over the rumoured plans to extend the tenure of the current Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun.
Egbetokun, who was appointed as IGP on June 19, 2023, is billed to retire on September 4, 2024, but his tenure of office is likely to be extended by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who sent an amendment Bill to the Police Act for passage by the National Assembly (NASS).
The amendment Bill, hurriedly passed by the two chambers of the National Assembly, is now awaiting the assent of the President to make it a law.
Speaking on the development, a retired Deputy Inspector-General of Police, DIG Adedayo Adeoye (rtd), tasked President Tinubu not to sign the bill extending the tenure of IGP into law.
Adeoye explained that such an amendment Bill ought not to be passed without getting the imputs and valid contributions of critical stakeholders and those of Nigerians.
He said; “Allow the public to say their minds on the bill. My appeal to the President is that he should not sign that bill. I am not against anybody”.
However, former Commissioner of Police in-charge of the FCT, retired CP Lawrence Alobi, said that the planned extension is a welcome development as it would allow the IGP to put in place needed structures and equipment for the police.
Alobi said; “Such an extension is not new to the Nigeria Police Force. The issue of office being tenured is to give the officer the time to plan and then also implement and ensure that his plans are well executed and implemented to achieve the desired results and objectives.
“When somebody goes to an office within one year or less than two years, and he is taken away, what time does he have to study the ground and make the needed changes?
“You can’t just come to an office in less than two years, and you are removed. What have you achieved? Because you must leave a legacy. I’m sure the IG wants to leave a legacy.
But, retired DIG Adedayo Adeoye, is of the view that extending the tenure of an individual would affect the professional progression of other hard working officers on the line of command, thus urged the President not to sign the bill extending the tenure of the current IGP.
In the words of Adeoye; “Believe me, you can’t do such a thing without asking the populace what they feel about it. Allow the public to say their minds on the bill. My appeal to the President is that he should not sign that bill. I am not against anybody.”
“Everybody wants to grow in his career. Everybody wants to get to the peak of his career. An extension of tenure will kill the morale of so many officers and create serious instability in the system.
Also speaking on the dicey issue, another retired Assistant Inspector General of Police, (AIG), Ali Amodu, said the choice was that of the President’s to make, saying; “If he wishes to sign it, nobody can stop him. He is an executive President and the Constitution gives him the power to sign or reject a bill.
“Well, people are complaining about what will happen to other people waiting. Will it not affect the career prospects of other officers? It is left for the President to decide,” he said.
