Former Inspector-General of Police, Mike Okiro, has expressed support for the recent amendment of Section 7 (6) of the Police Act 2020, which now grants a four-year tenure to the Inspector-General of Police (IG). In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday, Okiro emphasized that the amendment would foster stability within the Nigeria Police and allow the IG sufficient time to implement and complete long-term programmes.
Okiro noted, “The four-year tenure will ensure stability within the Nigeria Police. This will help sustain institutional knowledge and prevent disruptions. It will also lead to increased productivity and efficiency in carrying out responsibilities.”
The Senate’s recent amendment to the Police Act allows an IG to serve a full four-year term, irrespective of age or years of service. Okiro, who also served as chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), shared his previous recommendation that the IG should only be removed by a two-thirds Senate majority, not at the president’s discretion, which often led to instability.
“This amendment negates the previous retirement age and years of service limits in the civil service, allowing the IG to focus on the benefit of the police and the country,” Okiro said.
He also used the occasion of Nigeria’s 64th independence anniversary to call on political leaders to fulfill their campaign promises and urged Nigerians to contribute to the country’s development, noting that no government can achieve success alone.
