PeakNews Online
Abuja, Nigeria – The Senate on Tuesday passed a bill aimed at revolutionising police operations by enhancing accountability, modernising policing methods, and fostering a more harmonious relationship between the police and the community.
The bill, introduced by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, was considered at the Committee of the Whole.
Leading the debate, Bamidele stated that the bill seeks to improve police operations and ensure that any individual appointed as the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) remains in office until the end of the term specified in their appointment letter. If President Bola Tinubu assents to the bill, the current IGP, Kayode Egbetokun, could remain in office until 2027.
The bill faced opposition from the immediate past Senate President Ahmed Lawan (APC, Yobe North) and Senator Seriake Dickson (PDP, Bayelsa West). Lawan argued that allowing IGPs to complete their tenure without a performance-based review could lead to abuse of office.
“I just need a little explanation on whether there is permission for the amendment we are trying to make. Is there any clause anywhere that subjects the stay in office by the IGP to good conduct, to performance?” Lawan questioned. “Until people are given appointment performance satisfactorily, when we strictly give them the opportunity to serve as long as the tenure in the letter indicates, I think that will be abused because somebody will feel he will not be removed regardless.”
Dickson emphasized the need for broader reforms in the Nigerian policing system rather than merely guaranteeing the tenure of the IGP. “Unfortunately, we have not been able to formulate sects and steady rules in strengthening the police as a service and protecting the office of the Inspector General of Police. The police is a service that works for the people to protect the law and people’s properties,” he said. Dickson suggested stepping down the bill for further consultations with the police and other relevant stakeholders.
However, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin stated that the bill was clear and unambiguous. Following the debate, Senate President Godswill Akpabio put the bill to a vote, and it received overwhelming support from the senators.
