The Nigeria Police Force is currently experiencing a tense atmosphere following a recent declaration by Justice Fatun Riman of the Federal High Court in Awka, Anambra State.
The court ruling stated that only officers holding the rank of Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) or Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) with at least four years of service could be appointed as the Inspector General of Police (IGP), in accordance with the 2020 Police Act.
The court's judgment, delivered on May 19, 2023, also criticized the continued stay in office of the current IGP, Alkali Baba. Baba was appointed despite having less than four years left before retiring from the police force. Former President Muhammadu Buhari had extended Baba's tenure in mid-February 2023, contrary to the provisions of the Police Act.
The recent change in administration has sparked a mix of hope, fear of forced retirements, and uncertainty regarding the appointment of a new IGP and service chiefs in the police force and military. There are rumors circulating that President Tinubu, responsible for appointing the IGP based on the advice of the Police Council, may select an AIG from the South East as the next IGP. This has further intensified anxiety among officers.
However, it has been discovered that none of the six DIGs representing the six geopolitical zones in the Nigeria Police management structure meets the four-year service requirement before retirement. Similarly, only two out of the over 20 AIGs have the necessary years of service to qualify for the position of IGP.
Speculations suggest that the present administration may choose one of the two Commissioners of Police from the South West and North Central regions as the next IGP. These officers were recently promoted to the rank of CP and meet the four-year requirement of the Police Act. To comply with the Act, one of these "preferred officers" may be promoted to the rank of AIG.
The possible promotion of a "preferred CP" could lead to the premature retirement of senior AIGs and DIGs, causing a loss of experienced personnel and institutional memory. This move could also disrupt the stability of the command structure and lower morale within the police force.
Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), including RULAAC, Confluence of Rights Nigeria, Foundation for Justice and Peace Building, and Initiative for Research, Innovation and Advocacy in Development, have called on President Bola Tinubu to avoid repeating the mistakes of the previous administration in appointing the IGP. They argue that any waiver or tenure extension would undermine the law and provisions of the Police Act, potentially creating tension within the police hierarchy and affecting the movement of top officers based on seniority and rank.
Former IGP and current chairman of the Police Service Commission, Solomon Arase, also emphasized the need to avoid unconstitutional steps in the appointment process, drawing from past controversies and legal challenges.
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