A recent report has sparked outrage among senior police officers in Nigeria, alleging that Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has altered his official retirement date to October 31, 2027. According to sources, Egbetokun updated his service profile on the ‘Staff List of Senior Police Officers’ on January 13, extending his tenure in the police force.
Egbetokun, who joined the Nigeria Police Force in 1990, would have typically been eligible for retirement after fulfilling the civil service regulations’ 35-year service requirement. However, sources claim that he compromised the integrity of the system by exerting undue pressure on the National Assembly to allow him to extend his term. This move has raised eyebrows among senior police officers, who view it as a self-serving act that undermines the principles of fairness and transparency.
The Nigerian Senate approved a contentious amendment measure to prolong Egbetokun’s term past September on July 23, 2024. The Police Act Amendment Bill, which would alter the Inspector General of Police’s (IGP) term, was forwarded to the House of Representatives as an Executive bill. The bill aims to amend the Police Act of 2020, raising the retirement age of police officers from 60 to 65 and their service term from 35 to 40 years.
Stakeholders, including the Police Service Commission (PSC), the Ministry of Police Affairs, and the National Salaries and Wages Commission, have expressed strong opposition to the proposed extension of the service year and retirement age for police personnel. They argue that enforcing the extension would have unforeseen and significant repercussions that would be detrimental to the general well-being and efficiency of the police force. Furthermore, it would create a risky precedent for other institutions, including the military and paramilitary groups.
Senior police officials have also characterized the action as self-serving, citing concerns about the impact on the police force’s overall well-being and efficiency. They argue that extending police officers’ service years would result in a halt to advancement and creativity within the force, as well as a detrimental effect on their motivation and flexibility.
In response to the criticism, Force spokesperson Olumuyiwa Adejobi stated that the measure was initially presented in the 8th Assembly and aimed to improve police officers’ working conditions rather than for personal benefit. According to Adejobi, the President alone has the power to fire an Inspector General of Police before their term is up, adding that the position is already set at four years. He explained that the bill was first presented before the 8th Assembly but was never further developed before the Assembly was dissolved. “It is standard legislative practice to review and update laws to align with current national realities,” he said.
