PSC SET TO REPOSITION NIGERIA POLICE

The Police Service Commission is set to reposition the Nigeria Police Force in line with its Constitutional mandate of Recruitment, Appointment, Promotion and Discipline in the Force. Barely two months after a new board for the Commission was constituted by the federal government, it has moved to put in place structures to enhance the efficiency and discipline of the Nigeria Police Force.

Rising from its inaugural statutory meeting in Abuja in May, the Commission reaffirmed its Commitment to uphold the rule of law and follow due process, justice and equity in all its dealings and deliberations in line with the seven point agenda of the President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua administration. It also reaffirmed its commitment to ensure that the conduct of Police operations respect and protect the rights of citizens.

The Commission stated that it will be committed to promote integrity and merit in the Nigeria Police Force by ensuring that appointment and promotion are based on seniority, merit and equity and that appointment, promotion and disciplinary processes are clearly defined, fair and transparent. It aiso stated its commitment to work with and assist the Inspector General of Police to maintain discipline and high ethical standards within the Nigeria Police Force.

At the end of the meeting, the Commission also resolved to obey all court judgments and decisions affecting the Commission, stressing that any person with any valid court order should contacl the Commission. It also said it will embark on promotion exercise to fill existing vacancies, adding that promotion will henceforth be done as at when due.

The Commission also resolved to set up a committee to revisit the promotion of 134 officers before the inauguration of the present members of the Commission and that the Inspector General of Police should forward the list of the recommended candidates for appointment as Cadet Inspectors and Cadet Assistant Superintendents of Police so that the recruitment exercise can be concluded by the Commission and training commenced immediately.

The Commission said it will set up a Committee to plan for a strategy and mission for the Commission for the next five years and also to set up a mechanism for the public to give complaints an any misconduct of Police Officers and for the complainants to have avenues for
redress.

Other resolutions of the Commission were that all disciplinary matters of the Police will be dealt with expeditiously while a mechanism will be put in place to reposition the Commission to carry out its mandate. It also resolved to reconsider the mass retirement of ten thousand Police officers done recently.

The Commission stated that it is conscious of the enormous responsibility and mandate that the Constitution and the Police Service Commission Act 2001 have entrusted to it and called for the cooperation of all Nigerians to enable it perform these onerous tasks.

The Commission has also at its emergency meeting in June approved the promotion of 64 senior Police Officers including three Assistant Inspectors General of Police who were elevated to the Substantive rank of Deputy Inspectors General of Police and four Commissioners of Police who were promoted to Assistant Inspectors General of Police. Other senior Police officers promoted were twenty-three Deputy Commissioners of Police who are now Commissioners of Police, thirty four Assistant Commissioners of Police elevated to Deputy Commissioners of Police and eighty seven Chief Superintendents of Police promoted to Assistant Commissioners of Police.

Mr. Yusuf Haruna, Mr, Gasali D Lawal and John H. Ahmadu, Assistant Inspectors General of Police were promoted to the rank of Deputy Inspectors General of Police. The four Commissioners of Police promoted to the rank of Assistant Inspectors General of Police were Mr. Richard N. Chime, Mr. Kevin O. Opoke, Mr. Sardauna Abubakar and PAr. Audu Abubakar.

Meanwhile the Commission has approved the appointment and posting of four State Commissioners of Police. The new State Commissioners of Police are C.P. Bashir Azeez for Oyo State, C.P. Tambari Y. Muhammed, Kaduna 5tate, C.P Moses O. Anegbode, Yobe State and C.P Edgar Tamnanakumo for Abia State.

The appointments and postings were in conformity with Section 215 (1) (b) of the 1999 Constitution which vested the powers to appoint Commissioners of Police for each State of the federation in the Commission. The appointments and postings were also sequel to the need to fill existing vacant positions in Kaduna, Oyo, Yobe and Abia Commands.