ON THE EXTENSION OF THE TENURE OF THE INSPECTOR-GENERAL OF POLICE (IG) BY PRESIDENT BUHARI – ANOTHER FLAGRANT DISOBEDIENCE OF THE LAW BY THE BUHARI-LED FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
February 6, 2021 | News
With reports that the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. Mohammed Adamu, will continue his duty as the nation’s police chief despite the completion of his tenure, which is the position of the Federal Government after President Muhammadu Buhari approved the extension of the tenure of the police boss by three months,
ON THE EXTENSION OF THE TENURE OF THE INSPECTOR-GENERAL OF POLICE (IG) BY PRESIDENT BUHARI – ANOTHER FLAGRANT DISOBEDIENCE OF THE LAW BY THE BUHARI-LED FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
With reports that the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. Mohammed Adamu, will continue his duty as the nation’s police chief despite the completion of his tenure, which is the position of the Federal Government after President Muhammadu Buhari approved the extension of the tenure of the police boss by three months, it clearly suggests that this President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government has no regard for the Rule of law, and should be seen as a defector civilian dictator who does as he pleases, with no regard for what Nigerians thinks.
The excuse given by the Presidency, explaining that the decision to extend the tenure of the police chief was to give the Federal Government ample time to select the appropriate person to succeed him, absolutely holds no water and makes no sense. This is because it is a public knowledge that Mr. Mohammed Adamu was going to retire on February 1st, 2020, when he attains the mandatory 35 years of service in the Police Force from when he joined in 1986.
Section 251 of the Constitution states that an Inspector General of Police "SHALL" be a Serving officer. That means, from February 2, 2021, this officer ceased to be a member of the Nigerian Police Force (NPF). He cannot under any guise continue to parade himself as the Inspector General of Police. Yet, even after he was to retire on the said date, Adamu was seen still going about his duties and was even at the airport to welcome Mr. President from a trip. That means, they all knew all along that he would not be retired by the President, but rather, would have his tenure extended. But what is most important here is the fact that by this action, President Buhari publicly disobeyed a law he signed a few weeks ago, as he extended the IG of Police tenure. The President cannot, by administrative fiat, unilaterally extend the tenure of the Inspector-General of Police. It is simply against the law, and the Nigerian Police Act 2020.
This can only best be described as an act done by a civilian "common dictator". Again, the said renewal/extension of tenure of such Public Officers, in a country with surplus manpower, is simply wicked of the Buhari-led administration. The essence of people attaining retirement and leaving the public space is to create room for those at the bottom of the ladder to climb up in their ranks, and also make room for those desiring to enter the space. We cannot encourage this sort of practice in the country. That is why we see qualified young Nigerians that are without jobs, as well as Nigerians that are the productive manpower in Nigeria, leaving the country in droves to Europe and North America, and our Nigerian Government is not bothered about this.
By his action, Buhari has made it clear that you can disobey the constitution and nothing will happen. Sadly, the Nigerian Federal lawmakers are just there doing nothing to checkmate the excesses of the Executive Government. As they say, dictatorship does not happen in isolation…It needs the support of all government institutions to thrive. That is the sad reality under President Mohammadu Buhari-led administration.
Regardless, and moving forward, President Buhari should withdraw the said tenure extension of Adamu because this officer has paid his dues. And then call the Police Council for a meeting, in other to select and appoint the next Inspector-General of Police from the ranks of serving Acting Inspector-General of Police (AIGs). Because, that is what the law says he should do, in the appointment of Inspector-General of Police.
Zik Gbemre.
February 6, 2021
We Mobilize Others To Fight For Individual Causes As If Those Were Our Causes
With reports that the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. Mohammed Adamu, will continue his duty as the nation’s police chief despite the completion of his tenure, which is the position of the Federal Government after President Muhammadu Buhari approved the extension of the tenure of the police boss by three months, it clearly suggests that this President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government has no regard for the Rule of law, and should be seen as a defector civilian dictator who does as he pleases, with no regard for what Nigerians thinks.
The excuse given by the Presidency, explaining that the decision to extend the tenure of the police chief was to give the Federal Government ample time to select the appropriate person to succeed him, absolutely holds no water and makes no sense. This is because it is a public knowledge that Mr. Mohammed Adamu was going to retire on February 1st, 2020, when he attains the mandatory 35 years of service in the Police Force from when he joined in 1986.
Section 251 of the Constitution states that an Inspector General of Police "SHALL" be a Serving officer. That means, from February 2, 2021, this officer ceased to be a member of the Nigerian Police Force (NPF). He cannot under any guise continue to parade himself as the Inspector General of Police. Yet, even after he was to retire on the said date, Adamu was seen still going about his duties and was even at the airport to welcome Mr. President from a trip. That means, they all knew all along that he would not be retired by the President, but rather, would have his tenure extended. But what is most important here is the fact that by this action, President Buhari publicly disobeyed a law he signed a few weeks ago, as he extended the IG of Police tenure. The President cannot, by administrative fiat, unilaterally extend the tenure of the Inspector-General of Police. It is simply against the law, and the Nigerian Police Act 2020.
This can only best be described as an act done by a civilian "common dictator". Again, the said renewal/extension of tenure of such Public Officers, in a country with surplus manpower, is simply wicked of the Buhari-led administration. The essence of people attaining retirement and leaving the public space is to create room for those at the bottom of the ladder to climb up in their ranks, and also make room for those desiring to enter the space. We cannot encourage this sort of practice in the country. That is why we see qualified young Nigerians that are without jobs, as well as Nigerians that are the productive manpower in Nigeria, leaving the country in droves to Europe and North America, and our Nigerian Government is not bothered about this.
By his action, Buhari has made it clear that you can disobey the constitution and nothing will happen. Sadly, the Nigerian Federal lawmakers are just there doing nothing to checkmate the excesses of the Executive Government. As they say, dictatorship does not happen in isolation…It needs the support of all government institutions to thrive. That is the sad reality under President Mohammadu Buhari-led administration.
Regardless, and moving forward, President Buhari should withdraw the said tenure extension of Adamu because this officer has paid his dues. And then call the Police Council for a meeting, in other to select and appoint the next Inspector-General of Police from the ranks of serving Acting Inspector-General of Police (AIGs). Because, that is what the law says he should do, in the appointment of Inspector-General of Police.
Zik Gbemre.
February 6, 2021
We Mobilize Others To Fight For Individual Causes As If Those Were Our Causes