A security expert and public affairs analyst, Busayo Mogaji, has said that legal provisions—not age or retirement benchmarks—determine how long an Inspector General of Police can serve in Nigeria.
Mogaji explained that extending the tenure of the current Inspector General beyond the age of 60 remains within the law.
In a statement issued on Sunday, he said the ongoing controversy surrounding the impending retirement of the Inspector General of Police, Olatunji Disu, expected in April 2026, was unnecessary.
According to him, the Nigeria Police Act & Regulation 2020 clearly provides for a four-year tenure for the office of the Inspector General of Police. He noted that the provision was introduced to ensure stability in the leadership of the force and allow sustained implementation of reforms.
Mogaji stated that recent commentary suggesting the IGP must compulsorily retire upon attaining the age of 60 reflects a misunderstanding of the law.
“In a constitutional democracy governed by the rule of law, not speculation, agitation, or social media interpretation, clarity must prevail over noise,” he said.
He added that public commentary claiming that the tenure of the Inspector General automatically ends at 60 years of age does not fully reflect the statutory framework established by the police reforms.
“The law was designed to insulate the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force from uncertainties associated with conventional public service retirement rules,” Mogaji explained.
“The tenure of the Inspector-General of Police is firmly anchored in statute and must be interpreted in accordance with the provisions enacted by the National Assembly of Nigeria and assented to by the President.”
He therefore urged stakeholders, commentators, and the general public to rely on verified legal frameworks when discussing policing reforms and leadership issues within the force.
“This is not a matter of speculation, social media noise, or public agitation. In a constitutional democracy, clarity must prevail over confusion,” he said.
A similar controversy previously surrounded the tenure extension of former Inspector General, Kayode Egbetokun.
Following the debates, President Bola Tinubu approved amendments to the Police Act in 2024.
The amendment allows an Inspector General of Police to remain in office for the statutory tenure even after reaching the age of 60 or completing the traditional 35 years of service.
