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Tag: Mike Okiro

  • ‎PSC promotes 4,542 senior officers, others

    ‎PSC promotes 4,542 senior officers, others

    The Police Service Service Commission (PSC),  has approved the promotion of 4,542 senior police Officers to their next rank.

    The Commission in a statement in Abuja yesterday by it’s spokesperson, Ikechukwu Ani, also approved special promotion for 16 officers based on their exceptional  performance and dedication to duty on the recommendation of the Inspector General of Police.

    Two other officers were also promoted based on their gallantry act while 188 others were placed on acting appointment on their next rank.

    The commission noted that they were promoted between the month of May and June 2016.

    The break down of the promotions are as follows; “7 from Commissioners of Police (CP) to Assistant Inspector General (AIG), 6 from Deputy Commissioner (DC) to  CPs, 20 from Assistant Commissioner (AC) to Deputy Commissioner (DC), 8 from Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) to AC, and 107 from Superintendent of Police to CSP.

    “Others are 1431 from Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) to SP, 1252 from Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) to DSP and 1711 from Inspector to ASP.

    “These promotions and appointments have been communicated to the Inspector General of Police for implementation”, it stated.

    The Chairman of the Commission, Mike Okiro, urged  the affected officers to reciprocate government gesture by rededictating themselves to the service of the nation.

    He enjoined them to ensure that they are guided by the approved rules and regulations of the Force adding that they should operate with the fear of God.

    Dr. Okiro said the Commission would continue to ensure that promotion of police men is regular to serve as a tonic for effective and efficient service.

    He also noted that the Commission will continue to evolve guidelines and programmes to improve efficiency in the Force.

  • PSC shortlists over 300,000 for police jobs

    The Police Service Commission (PSC) on Thursday said it has shortlisted 338,227 applicants out of the 911,438 that applied for recruitment into the Nigeria Police Force.

    The Chairman of the Commission, Mr. Mike Okiro, who disclosed this at a news conference in Abuja, said screening of successful applicants would begin on June 6 in the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory.

    Okiro explained that 44,661 were shortlisted for cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), 87,736 for Cadet Inspector and 205,830 for Police Constables.

    He said  “I would like to emphasise that the initial shortlisting of applicants was done electronically.

    “Invitation letters were also sent to successful applicants through SMS and to their personal email addresses.”

    He, however, warned applicants against fake letters from criminal elements, saying “the invitation stated the date for each person’s screening and venue of the screening.

    “Applicants will be grouped according to their local government areas and a date fixed for their screening,” the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quoted the PSC chairman as saying at the briefing.

     

  • Police spends N600m on dogs

    Police spends N600m on dogs

    The Inspector-General of Police (IG), Mr Solomon Arase, has said that the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) had spent over N600 million on the procurement and maintenance of foreign dogs in the last few years.

    Arase made the disclosure at the inauguration of the Police Dog Breeding Centre and Ultra Modern Mounted Troop in Abuja on Thursday.

    “This is certainly not sustainable in the face of the current dwindling resources,” he said.

    The IG said that so much money was being spent on the importation of dogs from foreign countries that rarely adapted to the country’s policing objective.

    He said that the projects inaugurated were funded within the budgetary provisions of the Force Animal Branch.

    Arase said that the force animal branch had remained under utilised in the past while the force continued to rely on importation of dogs and other animals for its operations.

    He said that the centre was built to aid the police acquire capacity to locally breed police dogs as well as support other security agencies in the country.

    The Police boss said that the centre if effectively utilised, would save the nation some foreign exchange that would have gone into procurement of dogs from foreign countries.

    The IG said that the centre had the capacity to breed and supply police dogs to the entire West African sub-region.

    “It is projected that at optimal breeding capacity, it can produce well above 200 dogs per year,” he said.

    He said that the establishment of the facilities was part of the long term strategies aimed at restoring police primacy and aligning it to best global standards.

    In a remark, the Minister of Interior, retired Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau, said the projects were timely considering the current security challenges facing the country.

    Dambazau said that Nigerians deserved a police that was competent and reliable.

    He said that the projects would not only reduce spending but would also provide job opportunities for other Nigerians aside from the police.

    The high point of the occasion was a display by police dogs and award presentation to the Minister of Interior, Arase, and Mr Mike Okiro, Chairman, Police Service Commission, among other.

  • Police get eight new DIGs

    The Police Service Commission (PSC) on Tuesday the emergence of eight Deputy Inspectors General of Police (DIGs).

    Four of the officers were promoted from the rank of Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG).

    They are – Dan’Azumi Job Doma, Mamman Ibrahim Tsafe, David O. Omojola, Solomon E. Arase, Christopher K. Katso and Salihu Argungu Hashidu.

    Two others – Hilary Opara and Sotonye Wakama were promoted to DIG from the rank of Commissioner of Police.

    A statement by the Assistant Director, Press and Public Relations of the PSC, Mr. Ferdinand Ekpe, said the promotions take immediate effect.

    The Commission also re-affirmed its earlier decision that promotion of officers starting from the ranks of Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) up to the rank of AIG would not be automatic.

    According to the PSC, they would only be done after the affected officers must have passed their promotion interviews.

    The PSC had, at its 6th plenary, held on August 12 reviewed the time limit within which aggrieved police officers can lodge complaints against punishment meted to them up to 30 days.

    It has also availed aggrieved officers the opportunity to appeal directly to the Commission where the police authorities failed to implement corrective measures issued by the PSC in respect of aggrieved officers.

    The Chairman of the PSC, Sir Mike Okiro, was quoted to have enjoined the newly promoted officers to see their elevation as opportunity to serve, imploring them to use their wealth of experience in uplifting the Force.

  • Mike Okiro buries mum in style

    Mike Okiro buries mum in style

    FORMER Inspector-General of Police, Mike Okiro (rtd), has shown that being out of service does not necessarily mean being out of social relevance. This much he proved last Saturday when he made powerful and influential Nigerians to converge at his hometown, Obiakpu Egbema, Rivers State, as he gave his mother, Madam Bessy Okiro, a befitting burial.

    Prominent players in the Nigerian political space, serving and retired top police officers and other powerful individuals spared time to attend the function that shook the entire state. The late Bessy Okiro died recently at the ripe of 96. She was said to have suffered from age-related ailments for months before her departure.

    The mother of former IGP and current Chairman of the Police Service Commission was an amazon of some sort. She was the rallying point of her community during her life time. Her house was always a beehive of activities as she constantly hosted other indigenes of the town who needed her help in one way or the other.

  • Mike Okiro premieres Red Alert

    Mike Okiro premieres Red Alert

    Former Inspector General of Police Mike Okiro, at the weekend, in Abuja premiered a new television series, titled Red Alert.

    The 39-episode TV programme was an adaption from his new book: Overcoming Security Challenges.

    The series, which features Nollywood actors, will hit the screen in January.

    According to the producer, the series would help Nigerians to be security-conscious.

    Okiro explained that the book’s adaption into a television series was to pass its message to the public.

    According to him, the poor reading habit of Nigerians made him to turn the book into a television series, adding that with 39 episodes, viewers would be compelled to see the series.

  • Okiro eligible to head Police Service Commission

    Okiro eligible to head Police Service Commission

    Last week, President Goodluck Jonathan appointed former Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Mike Okiro to chair the Police Service Commission (PSC). Okiro is awaiting the Senate’s confirmation before assuming office. In this write up, a lawyer, Sir Barth Ozoana, states that Okiro is “eminently qualified” for the job.

    Is former Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Mike Okiro qualified to chair the Police Service Commission (PSC)?

    The answer is probably yes, going by the provisions of Section 156 of the 1999 Constitution, which reads:

    (1) No person shall be qualified for appointment as a member of any of the bodies aforesaid if-

    (a) He is not qualified or if he is disqualified for election as a member of the House of Representatives;

    (b) Within the preceding ten years, he has been removed as a member of any of the bodies or as the holder of any other office on the ground of misconduct.

    (2) Any person employed in the public service of the Federation shall not be disqualified for appointment as a chairman or member of any of such bodies; provided that where such person has been duly appointed he shall, on his appointment, be deemed to have resigned his former office as from the date of the appointment.

    (3) No person shall be qualified for appointment to any of the bodies aforesaid if, having previously been appointed as a member otherwise than as an ex-officio member of the body, he has been re-appointed for a further term as a member of the same body.

    From the above Section 156 of the 1999 Constitution, it will be seen that the provisions do not require that the member of such bodies “shall not be required to belong to a political party”.

    Section 153 lists the bodies as Code of Conduct Bureau; Council of State; Federal Character Commission; Federal Civil Service Commission; Independent National Electoral Commission; National Defence Council; National Economic Council (NEC); National Judicial Council; National Population Commission; National Security Council; Nigeria Police Council; Police Service Commission; and Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission.

    The 1999 Constitution does not put any impediment on the way of any Nigerian. Rather on the contrary all such members from time immemorial had always belonged to a political party. The important factors in an appointment of this nature are competence, integrity and dedication to duty.

    I submit without fear of contradiction that Mr. Okiro has all the above qualities, and above all he is a detribalised Nigerian who will always put the country first, and above his personal or group interest.

    Before the Nigerian Civil War, the then Chairman of the PSC, Alhaji Sule Katagum, was a card carrying and staunch member of the Northern People’s Congress (NPC). Also when the Obasanjo administration came on board, Mr. Okeke (popularly called Ochendo), a staunch Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) member from the Southeast became the Chairman of the PSC followed by the immediate past Chairman of the PSC.

    It is heartwarming to note that Okiro’s appointment has been commended by some Nigerians, including serving police officers. For example, on page 13 of The Punch of Friday, May 10, 2013, it was stated that the Assistant Inspector-General (AIG) Zone II Lagos described Okiro’s appointment “as a blessing to the force”, while the AIG Zone 5, Benin described the appointment “as the best appointment in the history of the PSC and he will perform very well because he is a man of integrity”

     

  • Jonathan nominates Nnamani, Okiro for board appointments

    Jonathan nominates Nnamani, Okiro for board appointments

    President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday forwarded the names of the former Senate President, Ken Nnamani and ex-Inspector General of Police, Mike Okiro for board appointments.

    Jonathan also nominated Hon. Justice K.M.O. Kekere-Ekun for confirmation as a Justice of the Supreme Court.

    While Senator Nnamani was to be confirmed to chair the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), Okiro is to chair the Police Service Commission.

    Jonathan also listed Barrister Aminu Dikko from Kaduna in the North West Zone as the Director -General of the ICRC.

    Other proposed members of the ICRC are – Mrs. Comfort Saro Wiwa from Rivers State (South South), Engr. Janet Febisola Adeyemi (Ondo-South West), Mrs. Yabawa Wabi (Bornu-North East), Hon. Musa Elayo (Nasarawa-North Central) and Barr. A.U. Kanu (Abia-South East).

    Members of the Police Service Commission are – the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Yakubu Mohammed (rtd) (North West), Hon. Justice Olufunke Adekeye, JSC (rtd), Osun, Aisha Larai Tukur (Taraba), Mrs. Comfort Obi (Imo), Chief Torngee Gem Toranyiin (Benue) and Dr. Otive Ogbuzor (Delta).

    Jonathan also wrote to withdraw the nomination of Mr. Adesoji Olaoba Efuntayo as the Secretary of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    Efuntayo was replaced with Mr. Emmanuel Adegboyega Aremo (South West).

    The President also urged the Senate to confirm the nomination of Mr. Adulphus Joe Ekpe as the Director General of the National Lottery Commission.