Police also said Egbetokun does not need to lobby for any tenure extension because he is yet to use the years stated in his appointment letter
By Kehinde Okeowo
The Nigeria Police has said President Bola Tinubu did not extend the tenure of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun as being speculated.
The IG’s continued stay in office has sparked widespread controversy, especially as he officially reached the mandatory retirement age of 60 on September 4.
According to the Police Act, police officers are expected to retire upon reaching the age of 60 or after 35 years of service.
Although there was a move to amend the retirement age of police officers as stated in the Act, it has yet to fully materialise.
The bill, though passed by the National Assembly, has yet to be signed by Tinubu.
Egbetokun’s failure to tender his resignation despite reaching retirement age fuelled speculations that the president had extended his tenure, with many reports citing a letter by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume.
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Reacting to the controversy generated by the action of the president, the Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, in a statement issued on Friday in Abuja, offered some clarifications.
According to him, President Tinubu only accented to the law governing the tenure of the office as required, adding that the IGP’s appointment is for four years.
The statement read in part, “The attention of the Nigeria Police Force has been drawn to various misleading reports and misinterpretations concerning the tenure of the Inspector General of Police, and wishes to categorically state that what President Bola Tinubu approved for the IGP is not an extension of tenure, but rather the proper application of the law governing the tenure of the office of the IGP.
“Contrary to the misinformation being circulated on social media and in the news, an appointment letter in circulation was issued to the IGP shortly after his appointment was confirmed by the Police Council.
“This letter, dated 3rd November, 2023, clearly stated that the President had approved a four-year tenure for the IGP in accordance with the provisions of Section 215(a) and Section 28(c) of the Third Schedule of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).”
The Force spokesman went on to say the IGP does not need to lobby for any tenure extension as he has yet to use the years stated in his appointment letter.
“It is important to emphasize that the IGP does not need to lobby for any tenure extension as his appointment letter explicitly grants him a four-year tenure from the date of his appointment.
“The ongoing circulation of false information is the handiwork of pessimists and mischief makers who are determined to spread baseless narratives against the office and the personality of the IGP for obvious reasons and pecuniary gains,” Adejobi added.