Egbetokun, Adedeji Confirmed As Police, Revenue Agency Chiefs

The Senate yesterday confirmed the appointment of Zaccheus Adedeji as chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).

The confirmation of Adedeji came when president of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, put it to voice vote, with the Senators unanimously supporting the request.

Adedeji, a former commissioner for Finance in Oyo State, was screened at the Senate committee of the whole before his confirmation.

He was appointed as acting chairman of FIRS in September pending confirmation by the Senate.

Special adviser on Media and Publicity to the President, Ajuri Ngelale, who had in a statement announced the appointment of Adedeji, also asked his predecessor, Muhammad Nami, who served from 2019 to 2023 to immediately proceed on three months of pre-retirement leave, leading to his eventual retirement from service on December 8, 2023.

During the screening, Adedeji told the Senators that he would review all the existing tax policies and tax waivers.

He said he graduated as a first class student in the Department of Accounting from Obafemi Awolowo University.

He noted that while he was serving as a Commissioner for Finance in Oyo State, he helped the state to increase its internally generated revenue without borrowing.

Adedeji promised that when confirmed as chairman of the FIRS, he would introduce policies that would increase revenue of the country.

Similarly, the National Police Council (NPC) has confirmed Kayode Egbetokun as the Inspector General of Police (IGP).

President Tinubu had appointed Egbetokun, then Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG), as the acting Inspector-General of Police on June 20 pending confirmation by the Police Council.

The council, chaired by the president and consisting of the 36 governors, the minister of the FCT, chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), and the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), confirmed Egbetokun’s appointment.

The minister of Police Affairs, Ibrahim Gaidam, announced Egbetokun’s confirmation as the IGP to state house correspondents after the meeting.

He highlighted Egbetokun’s impressive curriculum vitae and international exposure.

Also, Tinubu has set up a special committee to evaluate the inadequacies of the Nigerian police in the 1999 Nigerian constitution.

Bauchi State governor, Bala Mohammed, who disclosed this to State House journalists, stated that the committee which consists of the minister of Police Affairs, Ibrahim Geidam, the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), Solomon Arase, and chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum and Kwara State governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.

According to him, the committee is to collaborate on a shared reform agenda to ensure the comprehensive overhaul of the Nigeria Police Force.

Mohammed said Egbetoken’s confirmation led to extended deliberations concerning the Nigeria Police Force.

“The confirmation of the IGP prompted further discussion on the Nigeria Police Force  and the president has formed a special Committee to look at all the gaps in Nigeria’s 1999 constitution with a view to bring harmony and synergy, closing technology and manpower to the Nigerian Police force.

“The committee comprises the Minister of Police Affairs, NSA, Chairman of PSC and the Chairman of the NGF to work on a common reform agenda with a view to make sure that the Nigeria Police is reformed,” he said.