As the clock ticks towards the birthday of the Inspector General of Sierra Leone Police, Ambrose Michael Sovula tomorrow Tuesday 24th August, 2021 making him 61 years of age, there are persistent calls from within the rank and file of the Sierra Leone Police (SLP) for him to honourably proceed on retirement.
several senior young police officers in Kono, Kenema, Bo, Freetown and other police precincts across the country are convinced that, unless the government wishes to violate laid-down NASSIT provisions as it relates to compulsory retirement age of sixty years for all civil servants, then they are looking forward to IG Sovula doing the honourable thing by respecting the NASSIT Act.
It is no gainsaying that fact that the former IG Rd. Richard Moigbeh gracefully retired at the age of 60 years following a letter sent to him by the Sierra Leone Police Executive Management Board for him to take note.
Similarly, it is no secret that the current IGP Ambrose Michael Sovula turns 61 years on August 24, 2021; one year after he should have already retired. However, it was due to presidential intervention that granted him one year’s extension. But the extension comes to an end on August 2021 and definitely by that time, the general public expect he would have been replaced by a younger and more energetic police officer who will make Sierra Leone proud and attract respect from the international community.
According to reliable information, the Inspector General of Sierra Leone Police, Dr. Ambrose Michael Sovula turns 61 years of age on 24th August, 2021. He was appointed on 13th March, 2020 by President Bio to serve in this capacity.
This means that IGP Sovula has already crossed the threshold set by NASSIT for retirement of government officers at the age of 60 years.
Our information reveals that IGP Sovula was appointed five months before he was due to turn 60 years of age on 24th August, 2020. Though he had nearly turned 60 years of age at the time of his appointment, he was graciously granted an extension of one year which expires 24th August 2021.
Now that the one year’s extension is about to expire on 24th August, 2021 when IGP Sovula would have clocked 61 years of age; it is not unreasonable to state that, a much younger replacement for IGP Sovula is mandatory and constitutional.
It could be recalled that the former IGP Dr. Richard Moigbeh was three (3) months shy of reaching the compulsory retirement age of 60 years, when he was given a reminder via letter by the Sierra Leone Police Executive Management Board to take note and act accordingly that he was few months away from compulsory retirement.
The letter noted inter alia that: “In accordance with Section 2 (b) of the National Social Security and Insurance Trust (NASSIT) Act of 9th August, 2001 in which the age of sixty (60) years is prescribed as compulsory retirement age for government officials, you will attain the compulsory retirement age of sixty (60) years on 13th March, 2020.”
Consequently, the general public and concerned Sierra Leoneans across the board believe that the current IGP Dr. Sovula who turns sixty-one (61) years on 24th August, 2021 should also be reminded that it is time he leaves the office of IGP as he has passed the compulsory retirement age and even expended his one year’s grace. It is generally expected that a new and experienced IGP should therefore be appointed anytime.
