The Senate has passed the Police Act Amendment Bill, 2024, which guarantees a four-year tenure for new Inspectors General of Police (IGP).
This follows the amendment of the Police Act of 2020, initiated by a letter transmitted to the upper chamber on Tuesday by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The bill also seeks to raise the retirement age of police officers from 60 to 65 years and extend their tenure of service from 35 to 40 years.
Additionally, it aims to secure the tenure of the IGP and revolutionize police operations by enhancing accountability, modernizing policing methods, and fostering a more harmonious relationship between the police and the communities they serve.
The bill swiftly passed its second and third readings on Tuesday during plenary and was approved by lawmakers in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. Each chamber voted on the bill during separate sittings.
Police authorities have denied allegations that IGP Kayode Egbetokun attempted to influence the National Assembly to pass a bill aimed at raising the retirement age of officers.
Egbetokun was appointed by Tinubu in June 2023 and is expected to serve for four years, alongside four new service chiefs.
However, in compliance with Section 18(8) of the Police Act 2020, Egbetokun, born on September 4, 1964, is slated to retire in September 2024 at the age of 60.
A copy of the bill obtained by our correspondent indicates that Section 18 of the Principal Act has been amended to include a new Sub-Section (8A).
It states, “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 accordance with the provisions of Section 7(6) of this Act.”
