Former Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Sir Mike Okiro, has thrown his weight behind the federal government’s decision to legalize a 4-year tenure for the office of the Inspector-General of Police, describing it as a necessary reform to enhance stability, tangible reforms and long-term planning in the Nigeria Police Force.
Speaking on the recent amendment on Arise Television, which ensures a fixed four-year tenure for the IGP, Okiro noted that the move aligns with his earlier recommendation during his tenure as Chairman of Police ServiceCommission.
He said he was the one who wrote the recommendation to government while he was holding sway at PSC.
“I wrote that memo as an IG then. Two years is not enough for anybody to do anything in the police force. You can’t achieve anything within the shortest period. You can’t even organize a program for yourself, let alone the police force,” he said.
He emphasized that the previous short tenure of IGPs often disrupted policing strategies, as successive leaders had different agendas, making it difficult to achieve sustained security reforms. Citing past instances, Okiro recalled how political interference had led to abrupt changes in police leadership, which affected operational efficiency.
Addressing concerns about tenure extension affecting career progression, the former police chief dismissed such fears, stating that the duration of an IGP’s service does not hinder officers from attending courses or advancing in their careers. “There is a set time for an IGP’s retirement, and once it is due, he retires. It does not stop other officers from growing professionally,” he clarified.
Okiro also condemned allegations of age reduction within the force, describing them as falsehoods that should be dealt with decisively. “Anybody found engaging in such acts should be punished, and we already have measures in place to handle these matters,” he stated.
With his endorsement, Okiro joins other security experts in backing the government’s decision to grant IGP Kayode Egbetokun a four-year tenure, a move expected to bring much-needed stability and long-term strategic planning to policing in Nigeria.