Integrity Youth Alliance has knocked the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) for saying that the Inspector General of Police, IGP Egbetokun, instructed senior officers who have attained the mandatory retirement threshold to remain in service.
According to a press release on Monday, 10th February 2024, signed by the National Coordinator of the Alliance, Kelvin Adegbenga, even though the spokesperson of the Police Service Commission came out to clarify that the IGP’s comment for further directive does not mean that he rejected the commission’s decision, CISLAC still went ahead to issue misinformation to the general public.
“There is no doubt that the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) is just another busybody and meddlesome interloper who has failed to establish any peculiar or special interest over and above other Nigerians.
“We wish to also enlighten the ignorance of the CISLAC that the position of the Inspector-General of Police is a tenured office, a position held for a fixed period.
“For emphasised sake, the IGP never got any arbitrary extensions of office tenure, as IGP Egbetokun’s appointment is firmly grounded in law, specifically PART III, Section 7(6) of the Police Act, 2020 (as amended). This provision explicitly states that “The person appointed to the office of the Inspector-General of Police shall hold office for four years.”
“Also, To further strengthen Section 7(6) of the Nigeria Police Act 2020, in July 2024, the national assembly passed a bill seeking to allow the Inspector General of Police to remain in office “until the end of the term stipulated in his appointment letter.”.
The executive bill amended Section 18 of the Police Act 2020 to allow an officer appointed as the Inspector General of Police to serve beyond the current limit of 35 years in service or the age of 60.
“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 line with the provisions of Section 7(6) of this Act,” the Act reads.
Despite the relevant laws clarifying the tenure of IGP Egbetokun, the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) is consciously working to undermine Nigeria’s security policies by conspicuously ignoring all the relevant laws backing the tenure of an appointed IGP.
“The Inspector General of Police has never disrespected the PSC’s constitutional authority as made believe by CISLAC. The National Assembly amended the Police Act clarifying the tenure of an IGP, thereby preventing conflicts with the service regulations.
“Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Chief Lateef Olasunkanmi Fagbemi SAN, on behalf of the Federal Government, has upheld adherence to existing laws and prevented the politicisation of Nigeria’s security institution by explaining that “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 line with the provisions of Section 7(6) of this Act.”.
“There is no doubt that CISLAC is no longer committed to promoting transparent governance, upholding the rule of law, and safeguarding the independence of oversight institutions in Nigeria,” the statement concluded.
