|
Listen to article
|
The Nigeria Police Council on Monday formally endorsed the appointment of Olatunji Disu as the substantive Inspector-General of Police, clearing a critical institutional hurdle for the 59-year-old career officer to lead the nation’s primary internal security force.
The decision was reached during a 40-minute session at the State House in Abuja, presided over by President Bola Tinubu. The Council’s unanimous backing follows a week of leadership transition within the force and fulfills a statutory requirement under the Police Act 2020, which mandates the body to deliberate on and approve the nomination of the police chief. Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, confirmed the endorsement to reporters following the conclusion of the meeting, which commenced at approximately 2:15 pm. The proceedings serve as the official precursor to the next constitutional phase: the transmission of Disu’s name to the Senate for legislative screening and final confirmation.
The Nigeria Police Council is a high-level constitutional body chaired by the President. Its membership includes the Vice President, the 36 state governors, the Chairman of the Police Service Commission, and the Inspector-General of Police. Monday’s attendance reflected the administrative weight of the appointment, featuring Vice President Kashim Shettima, Secretary to the Government of the Federation George Akume, and National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu. Several state executives, including the governors of Lagos, Ogun, Enugu, and Plateau, were present, alongside the Ministers of Police Affairs, Interior, and the Federal Capital Territory.
Disu has been managing the force in an acting capacity since Wednesday, stepping into the role immediately following the departure of his predecessor, Kayode Egbetokun. While Egbetokun’s formal resignation letter cited personal family considerations as the primary reason for his exit, the transition has been the subject of intense administrative scrutiny.
Reports circulated within the capital suggesting the former police chief had been summoned to the Presidential Villa on the eve of his resignation, where he was briefed on the requirement to vacate the office.
The appointment of Disu comes at a juncture where the federal government is under pressure to reform the internal security architecture to address persistent challenges ranging from kidnapping to organized crime. Under the Police Act 2020, the Inspector-General is expected to implement modernized policing strategies and improve the transparency of the force’s operations.
Read Also: You Have Full Backing To Crush Criminals – Tinubu To New IGP
The procedural path for Disu’s elevation was signaled by the Presidency last Tuesday. In a statement at the time, Onanuga noted that the President would convene the Council shortly to “formally consider” the appointment in strict adherence to legal provisions. This move aimed to ensure that the leadership change remained within the bounds of the law, avoiding any potential legal challenges regarding the legitimacy of the acting head’s authority.
The endorsement by the Council effectively transitions Disu from a temporary appointee to the designated permanent head of the Nigeria Police Force, pending the Senate’s approval. Disu, an Assistant Inspector-General of Police prior to this elevation, is a veteran officer known for his previous roles in high-profile tactical and investigative units. His career has spanned several decades, during which he held various command positions across different states and specialized departments.
The Monday meeting also saw the participation of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack, and representatives from states whose governors could not attend in person, such as the Deputy Governor of Kogi State. The assembly of such a broad spectrum of state and federal leadership is designed to ensure that the head of the national police force maintains the confidence of the regional governors, who serve as the chief security officers of their respective states.
The swiftness of the Council’s meeting—occurring less than a week after the vacancy was created—underscores the administration’s intent to avoid a prolonged leadership vacuum within the security services. Sources within the presidency and the police establishment had indicated as early as Sunday that the Monday session was a priority on the President’s schedule, coinciding with the timing typically reserved for Federal Executive Council deliberations.
The focus now shifts to the National Assembly. Under the Nigerian Constitution and the Police Act, the Senate must vet the nominee’s credentials and vision for the force before he can be sworn in as a substantive Inspector-General. This process usually involves an appearance before the Senate Committee on Police Affairs, where the nominee is questioned on matters of national security, human rights, and police welfare. While the Council’s endorsement is a significant vote of confidence from the executive branch and the state governors, the legislative confirmation remains the final hurdle. The Presidency has not yet specified the exact date for the transmission of the letter to the Senate, though officials expect the document to be dispatched within the current legislative week.
Read Also: Tinubu Mandates New Police Chief To End Banditry, Terrorism
Until the Senate concludes its confirmation process, Disu will continue to exercise the powers of the office in an acting capacity, overseeing the daily operations of the force’s nearly 370,000 personnel. The transition marks the latest effort by the current administration to stabilize the command structure of the nation’s security agencies amidst evolving domestic threats.
The President is expected to transmit the formal request for confirmation to the Senate President in the coming days, initiating the final stage of the appointment process.
