Police IG to Complete Four-Years as Tinubu Begs Protesters
The National Assembly has passed the Police Act Amendment Bill, which allows the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to remain in office until the end of the term specified in their appointment letter. This bill, forwarded by President Bola Tinubu, aims to ensure the IGP’s tenure, enhance police accountability, modernize policing methods, and foster better community relations.
The bill quickly passed through the second and third readings in both the House of Representatives and the Senate on Tuesday. President Tinubu is expected to sign it into law soon. IGP Kayode Egbetokun, appointed in June 2023, was initially set to retire in September 2024 upon reaching the age of 60, which would have left him with only one year and three months in office. This amendment ensures he can complete his full four-year term.
This issue of IGP tenure has been recurring, as seen with Egbetokun’s predecessor, Usman Baba, who also faced similar retirement age controversies.
In the same vein, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has asked those planning to protest against his administration’s policies to shelve their plan.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, addressed State House correspondents yesterday after a meeting with the President on Tuesday, saying that the President directed him to communicate to Nigerians, especially the youths, to give him more time as all their concerns will be addressed, adding that measures are already ongoing to address the challenges.
Quoting the Minister’s words, he said, “Mr President said he listens to them and takes what they say seriously, and he is working assiduously to ensure that this country is good not just for today but also for the future. The issue of the planned protest, Mr President does not see any need for that, he asked them to shelve that plan and he has asked them to await the government’s response to all their pleas, he has listened to them.”
Speaking on the national minimum wage, the minister said, “Only today the NASS has expeditiously passed the bill on National minimum wage. You can see how the President is working. The bill was transmitted only yesterday and today it has been passed. A lot of other interventions that the President has put in place are also going to be looked at expeditiously in the interest of Nigerians, so there is no need for strike {protest}.
He pleaded with the young people out there to listen to the President and allow the President more time to realize all the goodies he has for them. The minister also highlighted other ongoing efforts to make sure the country reap the fruits of the renewed hope.
