President Bola Tinubu has confirmed that Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun will remain in office until 2027.
This confirmation clarifies that Egbetokun’s tenure is not an extension but a reaffirmation of the original four-year term outlined in his appointment letter.
A senior police source explained, “The tenure of the IGP was not extended but rather a clarification on his letter of appointment that stipulated four years in office.”
In July, the National Assembly passed the Police Act Amendment Bill, allowing IGPs to serve until the end of their appointed term.
President Tinubu forwarded the bill to both the House of Representatives and the Senate, where it was swiftly approved.
Egbetokun, appointed in June 2023 alongside four new service chiefs, is scheduled to serve a four-year term. According to Section 18(8) of the Police Act 2020, he will retire in September 2024 upon turning 60.
Currently, Egbetokun has served one year and three months of his term, with two years and nine months remaining.
The debate over the IGP’s tenure is not new. Egbetokun’s predecessor, Usman Baba, also faced similar scrutiny. Baba, who reached retirement age in March 2023, remained in office until Egbetokun’s appointment three months later.