There is currently intense lobbying at the Nigeria Police Force in the race to succeed Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun whose retirement draws near.
Egbetokun, appointed on June 19, last year, is due to bow out of service on September 4 when he will turn 60.
However, there is uncertainty over whether he will go on that date or enjoy an extension to stay in line with the amendment to the Police Act.
The amendment, an Executive Bill, passed by the two chambers of the National Assembly on July 31, allows the President to extend the tenure of an IG beyond 35 years in service or 60 years of age, depending on which one comes earlier, to enable the sitting IG spend his full four-year tenure.
The passed bill is, however, yet to be signed by the President to become an act.
It was learnt that the IGP has tied his retirement fate to the final decision of the President.
The amendment, which is creating tension in the police, was the inclusion of Section 18(8A) by both the Senate and the House of Representatives in the Nigeria Police Act, 2020.
The law also pegs the tenure of any IGP to the four-year term of his or her appointment as stipulated in the letter given to him or her by the President.
A source told The Nation: “Despite the fact that the President has not spoken or assented to the new bill, some senior police officers have started lobbying. They include some DIGs, AIGs and even Commissioners of Police.
“Some of them are jostling for the office in anticipation of a comprehensive overhaul of the NPF structure. We have had precedents in the system before.
“There is suspense within the Force. No one knows if the four DIGs, who are due for retirement on or before December 25th, will benefit from the new law or not.”
Another source said: “There is uneasy calm in the Police on whether or not the IGP will get tenure extension by virtue of the amendment to the Nigeria Police Act.
“Tenure extension in the twilight of retirement may lead to a distortion of the system. It will expose the police system to lobbying and desperation to get to positions whether deserving or not.
“Some of those in line to succeed Egbetokun believe that tenure extension will be unfair to them. They believe the President should not apply a law at the last minute.”
The situation is said to have created tension in the high command of the police with some officers from Commissioners of Police (CPs), Assistant Inspectors-General (AIGs), and Deputy Inspectors-General (DIGs) cadres, lobbying intensely for the IG’s position.
There are eight DIGs, 46 AIGs, and 125 CPs. Four of the seven DIGs are due to retire between September and December.
The retirement dates for the DIGs are Bala Ciroma (3/3/2025); Emeka Frank Mba (18/5/2027); Sylvester Abiodun Alabi (31/12/2024); Daniel Sokari-Pedro (18/12/2024); Ede Ayuba Ekpeji (21/10/2024); Bello Makwashi Maradun (25/12/2024); Dasuki Danbappa Galadanchi (3/3/2025); and Sahabo Abubakar Yahaya (15/9/2025).
