IGPs should be appointed without senate confirmation– Idris

Ibrahim Idris, Inspector-General of Police (IGP), has spoken against the senate confirming the appointment of an IGP.

Idris said this while demanding that the senate expunge provisions of a new bill that requires senate confirmation of an IGP’s appointment by the president.

The police chief made the submission on Wednesday during a public hearing by the senate committee on police affairs on the police reform bill.

The constitution currently requires the president to appoint an IGP subject to the senate’s approval.

But the reform bill is seeking to open the window for other police officers interested in the position to apply.

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Its section 3 states: “Interested persons (for the office of the IGP) shall make an open and formal application to the police council; the Nigerian police council shall nominate three applicants from among the pool of applicants using the stipulated criteria for competences and qualification; the president shall appoint the inspector-general of police from the recommended applicants subject to the confirmation of the Senate.”

But addressing the lawmakers, the IGP said such confirmation will “make the police less proficient.”

“The appointment of the inspector-general of police by the president on the advice of the police council without the senate confirmation is the desire of the police and should be made to be in the bill,” he added.

The IGP has been endured a frosty relationship with the senate for some time. Having failed to appear before the senate despite different invitations, the senate declared him an enemy of Nigeria’s democracy.

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