PSC denies supporting IGP’s tenure extension

The Police Service Commission (PSC) has denied endorsing the tenure elongation of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Usman Alkali Baba.

An online news platform (not The Star) had claimed that the PSC threw its weight behind the tenure extension of the IGP.

The online publication claimed that a commissioner in the commission, AIG Lawal Bawa (Rted), said the PSC “is not against the extension of the tenure of the Inspector-General of Police”.

It further quoted the commissioner as saying: “If the IGP feels that it will affect effective monitoring of the elections, let him write to the President for their extension, We (PSC) have no objection.”

However, the PSC, while reacting to the claims via a statement issued on Monday by its spokesperson, Ikechukwu Ani, described the report as false, adding that it was never contacted on the alleged tenure extension at any time.

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“The Honourable Commissioner has since denied making such statement, stressing that he was obviously misquoted.

“According to him, he told the online publication that it was the prerogative of Mr. President to decide.

The Commission therefore wishes to state that it has not endorsed any tenure elongation for the current Inspector-General of Police.

“As a matter of fact the Commission was never contacted on this subject at any time.

“It notes that it will always commit itself to the letters and spirit of the laws of the land and will not at any time support or encourage any attempt to subvert these laws,” the PSC noted.

It, however, urged the media to “avoid unnecessary sensationalism in an attempt to attract huge readership”, adding that it would continue to work to ensure an effective and efficient Nigeria Police rooted in the rules and regulations governing its operations.

The Star