Policing: Okiro says 4-year tenure for I-G will ensure stability
By Joseph Edeh
Former Inspector-General of Police (I-G), Mr Mike Okiro, said the amendment of Section 7 (6) of the Police Act 2020, to allow for a four-year tenure for the office of the I-G would stabilise the police system.
Okiro said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abuja.
He that the amendment would afford the I-G 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.
“The four-year tenure will also ensure increased productivity and efficiency in carrying out responsibilities.
“It is my strong conviction that this will allow the I-G to focus on his longer-term planning, goal-setting, and successful execution,” he said.
NAN reports that the Senate recently amended Section 7 (6) of the Police Act 2020, to allow the I-G to complete a four-year term irrespective of age or years of service.
Okiro said that as former chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), he had recommended that the I-G should only be removed from office by two-thirds of the senate and not the president.
“The police and the country are losing in this situation because there is no stability in the system,” he said.
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.
NAN further reports that with the amendment, anybody appointed to the office of the I-G 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 I-G urged the political class to fulfill the promises made to Nigerians during campaigns.
He said Nigeria has all it takes as a country to do better.
“The political class should fulfill what it promised the electorate during the electioneering and  Nigeria would be great if we could all unite”.
The former chairman of PSC called on Nigerians to contribute their quota to the country’s development as no government can do it alone. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Emmanuel Yashim
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