President Bola Tinubu has approved the extension of Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun’s tenure until 2027.
A senior police official, speaking anonymously, clarified that the letter issued was not an extension but a confirmation for him to complete the original four-year tenure as specified in his appointment letter.
The official said the SGF, George Akume, gave the IGP the letter of his tenure extension on Monday.
He, however, clarified that the letter was not an extension but rather a confirmation that he should complete the four-year tenure as originally stated in his letter of appointment.
The source said, “The tenure of the IGP was not extended but rather a clarification on his letter of appointment that stipulated four years in office.”
In July, the National Assembly passed the Police Act Amendment Bill to enable a person appointed to the office of Inspector General of Police (IGP) to remain in office until the end of the term stipulated in the letter of appointment.
President Tinubu forwarded the Bill to the House of Representatives and Senate to amend the tenure of the IGP.
The Bill was expeditiously passed by lawmakers in both green and red chambers. The upper and lower chambers passed the bill at separate sittings.
The President appointed Egbetokun as the IGP in June 2023 for four years. He was appointed alongside four new service chiefs.
According to Section 18(8) of the Police Act 2020, Egbetokun, who was born on September 4, 1964, is expected to retire in September 2024, when he clocks 60.
At the moment, Egbetokun has been in office for one year and three months, with two years and nine months remaining of his four-year appointment.
The controversy about the tenure of IGP didn’t start with the current police boss. That of Egbetokun’s predecessor, Usman Baba, was not in any way different. Baba clocked 60 years old in March 2023 and attained the mandatory 35 years of service but he remained in office till Tinubu appointed Egbetokun as his replacement three months later.