PSC Denies Encouraging The Extension Of The IGP’s Term

The Police Service Commission (PSC) administrative office has denied that it favors extending Inspector General of Police (IGP) Alkali Baba’s term. Ikechukwu Ani, a spokesperson for the PSC, writes in a statement: “The Commission’s attention has been attracted to an online publication where the Commission was said to have approved the extension of the term of the present IGP Usman Alkali Baba.

AIG Lawal Bawa (ret. ), Commissioner of the Police Service Commission (representing the Police), was purportedly interviewed by the newspaper, and it claimed that Bawa had verified that the Commission ‘is not against the extension of the term of the IGP’.

It went on to cite the Commissioner as adding that the IGP should write to the President to request an extension if he believes it would hinder proper election monitoring. The PSC does not object. Since then, the Commissioner has denied making such a claim and stressed that he was undoubtedly misquoted.

Therefore, the Commission wants to make it clear that it has not approved any term extensions for the present IGP. In fact, the Commission was never approached about this issue at any point.

It states that it will always adhere to the letter and the spirit of the law and that it will never promote or encourage any effort to circumvent the law. The Commission wants to make a plea to the media to refrain from creating unneeded sensationalism in an effort to increase reading. The Commission will keep working to ensure that the Nigeria Police is anchored in the laws and standards that govern its activities.