The Minister of Police Affairs, Mohammed Dingyadi, yesterday said the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Usman Baba, will not be retiring midway into the general elections.
The Minister said as earlier expected, the IGP already has an appointment letter extending his term in office.
He dropped the hint while briefing State House correspondents at the end of the first Federal Executive Council (FEC), meeting of the year presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the Council Chamber, Presidential Villa in Abuja.
He explained that the Police Act 2020 has changed the rules for an IGP’s retirement.
There have been speculations in the media lately that the nation’s Police Chief would be clocking 60 years on March 1, 2023, and would be expected to honour the rule that mandates public servants to go on retirement at 60 years.
But fielding questions from journalists on whether or not the IGP would be retiring as expected, Dingyadi said “I don’t know where you got your record but let me say that by the provision of the Police Act 2020, the IG is now supposed to have a kind of four-year period and Mr. President has already given him a letter of appointment in that regard. So, the issue of IG going out during this election period does not arise.”
Muhammadu Buhari appointed the then DIG Baba as the acting Inspector General of Police on April 6, 2021.
The Police council confirmed him as the substantive Inspector General of Police on June 2021.
The IGP would turn 60 in March, having been born in 1963 and is due for retirement.
Recall there had been concerns over the expected retirement of the IGP, three Deputy Inspectors General of Police (DIGs), many Assistant Inspectors General of Police (AIGs), Commissioners of Police (CPs), and 290 other policemen in the first quarter of this year.
He affirmed that the level of corruption within the Nigeria Police has drastically reduced
Dingyadi also disclosed that FEC approved a draft bill for an Act to establish the Nigeria Police Force College Training School and Institution to serve as centres for professional training of officers, the Nigeria Police Force, and other related matters.
He also said it is to provide legal backing to the existing training institutions across the country and not to build new ones
Dingyadi explained, “It is worth it to note that as part of Mr. President’s reform of the Nigerian police ecosystem, the ministry is championing police reforms with the strong backing of the presidency, and stakeholders to address observed gaps in the training and retraining of police officers.
“They have habilitated and upgraded available police training institutions and facilities nationwide. Tackle the lack of funding to take care of the training institutions and create a robust structure for effective management and administration of the institutions.
“In consideration of the above, the Federal Executive council has today graciously approved the draft bill for an act to establish Nigeria police force college training school and institution to serve as centres for professional training of officers, Nigerian police force, and other related matters.
“It has also directed the Attorney General the Federal Minister of Justice, to transmit the draft bill to National Assembly for enactment into law.
“Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, by the time this draft bill is passed by the National Assembly, it is expected to change the narrative in our institutions.
“In addition to giving legal backing to these institutions and financial autonomy, it will also have to mobilize the much needed technical and financial support from within and outside the country for the modernisation of police training facilities towards improving the quality of officers that are produced for deployment, in furtherance of Federal Government’s agenda on police reforms for effective policing in the country.”
