Former Inspector-General of Police Mike Okiro says the amendment of section 7 (6) of the Police Act 2020, allowing a four-year tenure for the office of the IGP, would stabilise the police system.
Mr Okiro said this in an interview on Friday in Abuja, adding that the amendment would afford the IGP adequate time to execute programmes initiated within the period.
“The four-year tenure will ensure stability within the Nigeria Police. This will help sustain institutional knowledge and prevent disruptions,” said Mr Okiro.
Mr Okiro explained that the development would enhance productivity and efficiency and “allow the I-G to focus on his longer-term planning, goal-setting, and successful execution.“
Recently, the Nigerian Senate amended section 7 (6) of the Police Act 2020 to allow the IGP to complete a four-year term irrespective of age or years of service.
Mr Okiro said that as former chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), he recommended that the IGP should only be removed from office by two-thirds of the Senate, not the president.
“The police and the country are losing in this situation because there is no stability in the system,“ he said.
Mr Okiro said that sometimes inspectors-general of police stay in office at the president’s discretion and so have no tenure security.
“The law has now negated the 60 and 35 years retirement age and years of service, respectively, in the civil service. With this law now, the I-G can concentrate on the benefit of the police and the country,“ he said.
With the amendment, anybody appointed to the office of the IGP would remain in the office until the end of the four-year term stipulated in the letter of appointment.
On Nigeria’s 64th independence anniversary, the former IGP urged the political class to fulfil the promises made to Nigerians during campaigns.
The former chairman of PSC called on Nigerians to contribute their quota to the country’s development as no government can do it alone.