President Bola Tinubu has officially confirmed that Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun will remain in office until 2027, fulfilling the original four-year term specified in his appointment letter.

Contrary to reports suggesting an extension of his tenure, a senior police source, speaking on condition of anonymity, clarified that the letter was not an extension but rather a reaffirmation of Egbetokun's four-year term as initially outlined. "The IGP's tenure was not extended but was instead a confirmation of the four-year term specified in his appointment letter," the source explained.

In July, the National Assembly passed the Police Act Amendment Bill, allowing the IGP to serve the full term stipulated in their appointment letter. President Tinubu had forwarded this bill to both the House of Representatives and the Senate, requesting an amendment to the IGP's tenure. Lawmakers in both chambers swiftly passed the bill in separate sittings.

Egbetokun was appointed as IGP in June 2023 for a four-year term, along with four new service chiefs. Under Section 18(8) of the Police Act 2020, Egbetokun, born on September 4, 1964, would have been required to retire in September 2024, upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 60. However, with this confirmation, he will now continue to serve until 2027, having completed one year and three months in office, with two years and nine months remaining.

This controversy over the tenure of the IGP is not new. Egbetokun’s predecessor, Usman Baba, faced a similar situation. Baba turned 60 in March 2023 and completed 35 years of service but remained in office until President Tinubu appointed Egbetokun as his successor three months later.