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Tag: Police commission

  • Police Commission begs Nigerians to shun protest

    Police Commission begs Nigerians to shun protest

    …commends IGP’s proactiveness in preventing crisis

    The Police Service Commission (PSC) on Tuesday, July 30, called on Nigerians to allow peace and support the federal government in its determined efforts to improve the living conditions of its citizenry.

    PSC said there is a need for Nigerians to appreciate the efforts of the government in rebuilding the fractured Nigerian nation and avoid the temptation of falling prey to merchants of war.

    The Commission stressed that what the present government needs now is the support of the Nigerian people to consolidate its efforts to deepen democracy and bring prosperity across the nation.

    Chairman of the Commission, DIG Hashimu Argungu (rtd), said the Commission is happy with the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Olukayode Egbetokun for his proactive measures to ensure non-violent protests.

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    According to a statement issued by the Head, Press and Public Relations, PSC, Ikechukwu Ani, Argungu said the IGP’s order to  Commanders of Police Tactical teams to observe the principles of professionalism and adherence to the rule of law in managing public demonstrations was heartwarming and reassuring but warned that this democratic gesture should not be taken for granted.

    The PSC Chairman re-echoed the warning of the Inspector-General of Police that while the right to peaceful protest is a fundamental democratic right: “it is imperative the Police ensure these protests do not escalate to violence.”

    He noted that the IGP’s decision to withdraw officers from extra policing services was in the right direction to ensure that more men are deployed and fully prepared to provide immediate support to prevent escalation of violence.

    The PSC Chairman called on Police Officers in the country to rise to the occasion and defend the nation’s fragile democracy.

    He said the Commission will always reward hard work and commitment to national security and invited the Police Officers to exhibit the greatest sense of professionalism and competence at this time of national threat adding that the public should rather support the Police to keep the nation united and progressive.

  • Evans: Police Commission promotes Abba Kyari, Kolo, 56 others

    The Police Service Commission has approved the promotion of Abba Kyari, Yusuf Kolo and 56 others for the roles they played in the arrest of Chukwudumuje Onuoamadike, aka Evans and his gang.

    Their promotion is part of the special promotion exercise conducted by the commission.

    The commission last year suspended special promotion exercise after an outcry by Senator Isah Misau and others.

    A statement in Abuja yesterday by spokesman Ikechukwu Ani said the promotion and acting appointments were based on the superlative performance of the officers in the arrest of the deadly gang, who terrorised Nigerians.

    He said the commission took the decision yesterday at its 27th plenary meeting presided over by the Chairman, Mike Okiro.

    A source at the commission confirmed to The Nation that Abba Kyari and Yusuf Kolo, who were part of officers who have led operations that resulted in arrests of kidnappers and other criminals, were among those promoted.

    The officers were promoted from the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police to Deputy Commissioners of Police.

    The statement reads: “The Police Service Commission has approved special promotion of 45 police officers and acting appointments for another 13 officers who played major roles in the arrest of Chukwudumuje Onuoamadike, aka Evans, a notorious kidnapper and 21 members of his gang.

    “The officers are of the Intelligence Response Team, (IRT), Special Tactical Squad (STS) and Technical Intelligence Unit under the direct supervision and coordination of the IGP Monitoring Unit at the Force Headquarters Abuja.

    “The promotion and acting appointments were also necessitated by the need to match rank with schedules of duty either being performed or to be performed by the officers and for their acts of gallantry and courage exhibited in the course of duty.”

    Dr. Okiro said the new ranks would motivate the officers for improved performance.

  • Police commission promotes 6,455 senior officers

    THE Police Service Commission (PSC) has approved the promotion of 6,455 senior police officers contained in a recommendation from Inspector General of Police Idris Ibrahim.

    But, the commission returned to the IG recommendations on special promotions.

    A statement in Abuja yesterday by the commission’s Head of Press, Ikechukwu Ani, said some of those promoted are: ACP Hilda Ibifuro-Harrison, who is now promoted to the rank of Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) and two Deputy Commissioners of Police, Ajani Olasupo Babatunde and Olukola Taira Shina, promoted to the rank of commissioners of Police.

    A breakdown of others promoted includes 47 Superintendents of Police, who were elevated to Chief Superintendents of Police and 498 Deputy Superintendents of Police promoted to the rank of Superintendents of Police.

    Others are 5,907 inspectors, who were promoted to the rank of Assistant Superintendents of Police and Deputy Commissioners of Police Mohimi D. Edgal and Aji Ali Janga,  who were appointed as acting Commissioners of Police.”

    The statement said the promotions and other decisions of the commission, signed by its chairman, Mike Okiro, will be conveyed to the IGP for implementation.

  • Officers petition police commission over alleged unfair promotion

    Officers petition police commission over alleged unfair promotion

    Aggrieved senior police officers, who complained over the promotion of their juniors ahead of them have petitioned the Police Service Commission (PSC) to address the anomaly.

    In a September 22 petition signed on behalf of the aggrieved officers by Oludare Falana of Falana & Falana Chambers , a copy of which was made available to our correspondent,  the officers said they were ‘fraudulently’ cheated out of the last promotion for no just  cause.

    According to them, trouble started sometimes in 2000 when the Nigeria Police organised an induction course for confirmed Inspectors for six weeks.

    They said that Inspectors, who were not confirmed on the rank were excluded in the exercise with an indication that they will participate in Rank/ File ASP promotion course that was to come up later that year (2000).

    At the time the course was organised, they said, the Police Service Commission was yet to be inaugurated by the President.

    “After the Six weeks induction was rounded off on the 30th June 2000, the officers who were the participants in that Course were informed to hold on pending the inauguration of the Police Service Commission for ratification, which also applies to all Commissioned ranks in the Nigeria Police.

    “Thereafter, to our utter dismay, when the President eventually inaugurated the Police Service Commission, the list containing our names was not forwarded to the Commission for ratification,” they alleged

    “Rather our names was brought out in a departmental selection board (DSB) promotion, a promotion not based on educational qualification or training, thus surreptitiously making it appear that there was no induction course at all in order to pave the way for the course 20/2000 Officers to become our seniors in Police ranking.

    “Every effort by us to draw this to the attention  of the Police authority was often thwarted by ‘interested persons’.

    “However, the former Inspector General of Police, Mr. Ogbonna Onovo, on the prompting of former IGP Musiliu Smith, set up a panel to look into this allegation under the Chairmanship of CP. Samson Wuda (Rtd).

    “When the fraud was uncovered, he consequently wrote to this Commission to correct the anomaly. Furthermore, when Mr. Parry Osayande (D.I.G Rtd) became the Chairman of the Police Service Commission, the complaint was laid bare before him and the Commission at a plenary arrived at a decision that we should be given the promotion date of 1st of January 2008, while the Officers who were disqualified from writing the induction course with us should be given promotion date of 1st of March, 2008.

    “This was in order to reflect that we are the seniors in terms of ranking, which had been the position of things till about August 2015.

    “Again to our chagrin, the former Inspector General of Police, Mr. Sulaimon Abba, around August 2015, surreptitiously removed our names and substituted it with that of the Officers who were disqualified from writing the Induction course with us (Course 20/2000).

    “This made them our senior in the Police ranking and hierarchy, without any justification whatsoever,” the petition stated.

    Meanwhile, the officers also said the Commandant of the Police Staff College DIG Florence Adebanjo (Rtd), who coordinated the two courses (i.e. induction course and Course 20/2000), was aware of this anomaly and that she wrote a memo to the appropriate authority, asking that it be corrected to no avail.

    “It is stating the obvious that, in the Nigeria Police and indeed the public service, Induction courses are senior to both training and promotion courses.

    “Induction course is merely ceremonial as participants are already Officers, only to be inducted into their new Cadre.

    “On the premises of the foregoing, we urge you to use your good Offices to cause a detailed investigation into our Clients’ allegation with a view of correcting the anomaly and injustice meted to them.”

    The Falana chambers where the petitioned was channelled, said their clients’ are willing to shed more light on the issue with supporting documents, if the need arise.

  • Flush out bad eggs in police – Jonathan

    Flush out bad eggs in police – Jonathan

    Worried by the high level of indiscipline in the Nigeria Police Force, President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday charged the Police Service Commission (PSC) to leave no stone unturned in the efforts to flush out the bad eggs in the system.

    Speaking at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, after swearing-in the new PSC Chairman, Mike Okiro and five other members, President Jonathan urged the commission to instill discipline in the force and ensure promotions are done purely on merit.

    According to him, he was under pressure to sack police officers from the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police to the top over the 2011 bombing of the Police Force Headquarters by the Boko Haram sect.

    He pointed out that indiscipline and irregularities in staff promotion exercises are also rampant in other military and para-military services, which have been adversely affecting their performances.

    Recalling the recent screening and review process of six candidates for the post of the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), he declared that most of them do not merit the position but deserved to be sacked from the service.

    He said: “But I believe there are two things, one is the issue of discipline, and so one of the responsibilities of the Police Service Commission is to instill discipline. Another thing I believe is that people who do not merit certain ranks are being promoted to those ranks. One of your responsibilities is to handle promotion. I believe with you only those who merit or deserve promotion should be promoted.”

     

  • Senate confirms Okiro as police commission chief

    Senate confirms Okiro as police commission chief

    There was drama in the Senate on Tuesday as the upper chamber confirmed former Inspector- General of Police, Mr. Mike Okiro, as chairman, Police Service Commission.

    Curiously, the lawmakers rejected the nomination of former Action Aide boss, Dr. Otive Igbuzor despite stringent effort by Senator Babafemi Ojudu to ensure that Igbuzor was confirmed.

    Chairman, Senate Committee on Police Affairs, Senator Paulinus Igwe, presented the report of the screening of those nominated by President Goodluck Jonathan to serve in the commission.

    They included Mr. Okiro, Chairman, Mr. Yakubu Mohammed (DIG rtd,) (Katsina State) to represent North West, Hon. Justice Olufunke Adekeye (rtd) (Ogun State) to represent South West, Aisha Larai Tukur (Taraba State) to represent North East, Mrs. Comfort Obi (Imo State) to represent South East, Chief Torngee Gem Toranyiin (Benue State) to represent North Central) and Dr. Otive Igbuzor (Delta State) to represent South South zone.

    Though some senators applauded the report, Senate President, David Mark, wondered why there was no representation for the youths among the nominees.

    Mark noted that the Act of the commission specified that the youths should be represented in the commission.

    Senator Ayogu Eze said that Igbuzor who was to serve his second term in the commission represented the youths when he was first nominated in the Sixth Senate.

    Mark also wanted to know what new thing Okiro whom the screening committee rated high would do that he did not do when he was the IGP.

    He wanted to know how Okiro would improve the police force as the committee claimed in its report.

    Igwe explained that the committee believed that Okiro’s position as a former IGP has equipped him to serve better as Chairman of the commission.

    Senator Zainab Kure observed that the dates some of the nominees obtained their qualifications were not captured in the report.