The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has denied that he is lobbying the National Assembly to amend the Nigeria Police Act 2020 to elongate his tenure.

This is according to a statement signed by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi.

“It is vital to clarify unequivocally that the bill was originally introduced during the 8th Assembly but did not progress beyond the initial stages before the Assembly’s dissolution.

“It is standard legislative practice to review and update laws to align with current national realities,” it read.

The proposed amendment seeks to extend the years of service for police officers from 35 to 40 years, and the age limit from 60 to 65 years.

Adejobi said, “The Nigeria Police Force is deeply perturbed by the dissemination of false information across various media platforms, notably the distorted publication by online media, regarding the proposed amendment to the Nigeria Police Act 2020.

“The misleading publications alleged that IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun personally initiated this bill to prolong his tenure as the 22nd indigenous Inspector General of Police, and has allegedly invested significantly in lobbying lawmakers to facilitate its passage.

IGP Egbetokun decried a situation where certain media outlets and their sponsors have chosen to propagate baseless accusations, ignorantly disregarding the fact that any modification to existing legislation is designed to enhance its effectiveness and relevance.