Senate passes swiftly bill to allow IGP complete four-year tenure

Senate passes swiftly bill to allow IGP complete four-year tenure

The Senate has passed the Police Act Amendment Bill, 2024, ensuring a four-year tenure for newly appointed Inspectors General of Police (IGP). This amendment follows a letter transmitted to the Senate on Tuesday by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The bill also proposes increasing the retirement age of police officers from 60 to 65 years and extending their tenure of service from 35 to 40 years. It aims to enhance police accountability, modernize policing methods, and foster a more harmonious relationship between the police and communities.

The bill quickly passed its second and third readings during Tuesday’s plenary and was approved by lawmakers in both the Senate and the House of Representatives. The police authorities have denied allegations that IGP Kayode Egbetokun attempted to influence the National Assembly to pass the bill.

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Egbetokun, appointed by Tinubu in June 2023, is expected to serve a four-year term. According to Section 18(8) of the Police Act 2020, Egbetokun, born on September 4, 1964, would retire in September 2024 at 60. However, the new amendment includes a provision that overrides this section, allowing the IGP to serve the full term specified in the appointment letter.