The Parliamentary committee tasked with investigating the leaked tape involving the Inspector General of Police (IGP) has proposed that the president, when appointing an IGP, should adopt a consultative nomination and appointment approach involving key stakeholders from the security and intelligence sectors.
“The nomination and appointment process should also take into account the nominee’s demonstrable political neutrality, proven high sense of patriotism and professional competence combined with impeccable professional experience.”
The committee emphasized in its report that to preserve the sanctity and integrity of the nomination and appointment process for an IGP, the president must ensure that it remains free from politicization by “power brokers,” political associates, and individuals seeking influence. This, they argued, is crucial for fostering public trust in the nominated IGP.
The committee stressed the importance of revising and modifying Article 202 (1) of the 1992 constitution.
Furthermore, the committee stressed the necessity of obtaining parliamentary approval for the nominee to uphold the political independence and legitimacy of the IGP’s office.
“This is important to protect the appointment process from perceptions of partisanship and political manipulation and ultimately, preserve the sanctity of the appointment process,” the report added.