Hours to Adamu’s statutory retirement day, the Presidency is yet to announce a new inspector general of police or extend the tenure of the current occupant of the office.
By law, the police chief is appointed by the president on the “advice” of the Police Council. The Council is chaired by the president and has the 36 state governors, Chairman of the Police Service Commission and the IGP as members.
Reports reveal that there is intense lobby within the power cycles in Abuja, with Adamu still said to be hopeful of a tenure extension.
Adamu, a member of the ASP Cadet Course 14, is due to retire on account of service years. The IGP clocks 35 years in service on Monday, having enlisted in the Police Force on February 1, 1986.
The Police Act, signed by President Muhammadu Buhari last year, pegs the retirement age of police officers at 60 years of age or 35 years of service.
Section 18(8) of the new Act states: “Every police officer shall, on recruitment or appointment, serve in the Nigeria Police Force for 35 years or until the age of 60 years, whichever is earlier.”
The Buhari administration had in the past retained key military and paramilitary officials even after they exhausted their statutorily allowed time of service.
Experts and senior police officers, however, warned of the dangers of repeating “the mistake” done with the military.
There is yet no official comment from the Force Headquarters as its spokesman, CP Frank Mba.
