Can The Appointment Of An IGP Be Extended?
Introduction:
The Nigeria Police Force is a creation of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It is the only police force for the whole of Nigeria and is headed by the Inspector General of Police. An Inspector General of Police is to be appointed by the President of Nigeria. Over the years, past presidents of Nigeria have at different times, extended the appointments of Inspector Generals of Police. The big question here is, “Can the appointment of an Inspector General of Police be Extended?”
IGP and the President:
The President of Nigeria has constitutional powers to appoint an Inspector
General of Police (IGP), on the advice of the Nigeria Police Council. A person
to be appointed as an Inspector General of Police (IGP) must be a serving
member of the Nigerian Police Force.
Furthermore, the serving member of the Nigeria Police Force must also be not below the rank of an Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) and must have at least a first degree or its equivalent, in addition to professional and management experience. Also, a serving Inspector General of Police (IGP) can be removed from office by the President of Nigeria but must consult the Nigerian Police Council.
An Inspector General of Police (IGP) can only serve for four (4) years, according to the new “Nigeria Police Act, 2020”. The mentioned federal law is silent on the reappointment or extension of appointment of an Inspector General of Police (IGP). Hence, there is no law authorizing the extension of the appointment of an Inspector General of Police (IGP) in Nigeria. Rather the law expressly stated that an Inspector General of Police can only serve for four (4 years only.
Conclusion:
The President of Nigeria has the constitutional powers to appoint and to remove
an Inspector General of Police (IGP) on the advice of the Nigeria Police
Council. There is no law in Nigeria that empowers the President of Nigeria, the
National Assembly, the Nigeria Police Council, the Police Service Commission or
any person/institution/office/group to extend or to expand the four years
maximum tenure of an Inspector General of Police (IGP).
Hence, no person in Nigeria can extend the appointment of an Inspector General of Police (IGP), even for one day. Also, an extension or an attempt to extend the tenure of an Inspector General of Police (IGP) is unconstitutional, illegal, null and void. As such, all works done, documents signed, orders given and directives sanctioned by an illegally extended Inspector General of Police (IGP) may be legally invalid, illegal, null and void. This is the law of Nigeria and it remains so, until the federal legislature amends it.
Speak with the writer, ask questions or make inquiries on this topic or any other via onyekachi.umah@gmail.com, info@LearnNigerianLaws.com or +2348037665878 (whatsapp).
TheNigerianlawyer
Short URL: https://newsrangers.com/?p=64868
Posted by News Rangers
on Feb 3 2021. Filed under National.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0.
You can leave a response or trackback to this entry
