Stability and Unity: Nigeria’s Police Force Seeks Long-Term Planning
In a significant move, the Nigerian Senate has amended Section 7 (6) of the Police Act 2020 to allow the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) to serve a four-year tenure, regardless of age or years of service. This development has been hailed by former IGP Mike Okiro, who believes it will bring stability to the police system and enable the IGP to focus on longer-term planning and execution of programs.
According to Okiro, the amendment will allow the IGP to sustain institutional knowledge, prevent disruptions, and increase productivity and efficiency in carrying out responsibilities. He highlighted that the current situation, where inspectors-general of police stay in office at the President’s discretion, has no tenure security and is affecting the police and the country.
As a former chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), Okiro had previously recommended that the IGP should only be removed from office by two-thirds of the Senate, rather than the President. He emphasized that the new law will enable the IGP to concentrate on the benefit of the police and the country.
The amendment has also been met with a call to unity from Okiro, who urged the political class to fulfill the promises made to Nigerians during campaigns. He emphasized that Nigeria has all it takes to do better and that fulfillment of these promises will pave the way for a better future.
In his parting words, Okiro encouraged Nigerians to contribute their quota to the country’s development, highlighting that no government can achieve success alone. As the country celebrates its 64th independence anniversary, Okiro’s words of wisdom serve as a timely reminder of the importance of unity and collective effort towards a brighter future.
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