The Federal Government on Wednesday, dismissed fears that the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Usman Alkali Baba, will be retiring midway into the general elections.
The IGP, who clocks 60 years on March 1, 2023, is expected by law to leave office just before the general elections.
But speaking to State House Correspondents after a meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), presided over by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, on Wednesday, the Minister of Police Affairs, Mohammed Dingyadi, said the Police Act 2020 has changed the rules for an IGP’s retirement, adding that Baba already has his tenure extended via a letter by the President.
“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,” Dingyadi told State House Correspondents in response to questions on the expected retirement of the IGP.
Recall that the then DIG Baba was appointed as the acting Inspector General of Police on April 6, 2021.
The Police Council confirmed him as the substantive Inspector General of Police in June 2021.
