IGP's Tenure Extended, Retirement Rules Changed - Minister
The Federal Government says the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Usman Baba will not be retiring midway into the 2023 general elections.
The Minister of Police Affairs, Mohammed Dingyadi stated this while addressing reporters after the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja on Wednesday.
He said the Police Act 2020 gives the IGP a four-year tenure which cannot be interrupted by retirement age.
The IGP will clock 60 on March 1, 2023, and according to his profile, “he was commissioned into the Nigeria Police Force on 15th March 1988, as a Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police at the prestigious Nigeria Police Academy (Annex), Kaduna”.
The retirement age for public service officials is 60 years or after 35 years in service.
The presidential and national assembly elections are scheduled for February 25, while that of governorship and state assemblies will hold on March 11.
Speaking on Wednesday while answering questions from journalists on the expected retirement of the IGP, the police minister said the “issue does not arise”.
“I don’t know where you got your record, but by the provision of the Police Act 2020, the IGP is now supposed to have a tenure of four-year period and Mr President has given him a letter of appointment in that regard,” Dingyadi said.
“So, the issue of the IG going out during this election period does not arise.”
Baba was appointed as IGP in April 2021.
Meanwhile, Baba’s predecessor, Mohammed Adamu, also faced a similar issue prior to his leaving office.
President Muhammadu Buhari extended Adamu’s tenure by three months after he reached the mandatory 35 years in service in February 2021.
The matter was, subsequently taken before the federal high court in Abuja, and the court affirmed Buhari’s decision on the grounds that the constitution gives the president the power to appoint the IGP.
According to the court, by implication of the powers of appointment, the president can extend the tenure of an IGP who is due for retirement, pending consultation with the police council on the approval of a substantive replacement.
The Minister of Police also stated that the FEC approved a draft bill for an Act to establish Nigeria Police Force College Training Schools and Institutions.
According to him, the piece of legislation will only give legal backing to about 20 existing training institutions nationwide, and not build new ones.
He announced that from investigations conducted by its officers, the level of corruption within the police has significantly declined and the draft bill he also notes will further help towards a reduction of the menace.