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  • PSC to IGP: Prove allegations leveled against commission over recruitment

    PSC to IGP: Prove allegations leveled against commission over recruitment

    …urges Tinubu to prevail on police to obey constitutional mandate  

    The Police Service Commission (PSC), on Friday, June 21, asked the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun to provide verifiable evidence to prove allegation that the recruitment of 10, 000 eligible constables into the force was marred with irregularities and corruption. 

    PSC said the recruitment process followed due process, saying that all candidates have been fully certified fit for the job.

    Recalled that the IGP had on Thursday claimed that the PSC manipulated the recruitment procedure. 

    The commission said it is disturbing at the flagrant abuse of ethics, the constitution and valid judgment of the apex court of the land which gave power to the PSC to conduct recruitment into the police force.

    According to a statement issued by the Head of Press and Public Relations, PSC, Ikechukwu Ani, the commission had watched with keen interest the developments since it concluded and released the list of successful candidates for recruitment as Constables into the Nigeria Police Force.

    PSC urged President Bola Tinubu to intervene and resolve the issue.

    The commission also insisted that its list of successful candidates and that of the Police should be subjected to a forensic audit using the result of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) Computer Based Test (CBT).

    Ani said: “It is important to state that due process was meticulously followed throughout the exercise and the Commission wishes to assert its prerogative to exercise full control over recruitments into the Nigeria Police Force.

    “It is unfortunate that the Police has attributed its obvious failure to protect lives and properties, and safeguard our nation from banditry and terrorism to bad recruitment.

    “That the release of the confidential letter sent to the Chairman of the Commission by the Inspector General of Police on alleged lapses in the recruitment exercise to the Media was a gross violation of the Public Service Rules with grave Consequences. 

    Read Also: PSC employees blame police for recruitment crisis

    “That since 2019, when a former Inspector General of Police hijacked the soft copy of an ongoing recruitment exercise and forcefully completed the exercise without the input of the Commission – the statutory body solely charged with such responsibility,  the Commission has not been allowed to perform this constitutional duty.

    “The Commission has at every turn suffered several indignities in its attempt to perform functions provided to it by the Constitution even after the Supreme Court decided the matter in its favour.

    “That this show of brute force and intimidation by the Police and most recently inducements of hired writers to run down the Commission in the Media is a serious affront on the mandate of the Commission.  

    “The Commission has studied the issues around this successfully concluded recruitment exercise and has come to the conclusion that even after the Supreme Court Judgment, the Police is reluctant to allow the Commission perform this constitutional assignment. The Commission demands that the Police should provide verifiable evidence  to prove the allegations peddled against it as it is obvious that it is a case of giving a dog a bad name in order to hang it.

    “It is important to state that due process was meticulously followed  throughout the exercise and the Commission wishes to assert its prerogative to exercise full control over recruitments into the Nigeria Police Force”.

    PSC said the Supreme Court Judgment delivered on 11th July 2023 in the case of NPF & Ors v Police Service Commission & Anor (2023) – LPELR-60782(SC) reinforces the Commission’s  “exclusive” statutory authority in the recruitment of Constables, adding that the Supreme Court affirmed the Court of Appeal judgment delivered on the 30th September, 2020.

    Ani said: “The Commission however had, in its wisdom, invited relevant stakeholders into a Board for the recruitment exercise to ensure inclusiveness and transparency. 

    “This magnanimity has since been misconstrued. It is relevant to state that the judgment and even the Constitution did not give the Police any role in the recruitment of any cadre of Officers into the Police Force.

    “It is unfortunate that the Police has attributed its obvious failure to protect lives and properties, and safeguard our nation from banditry and terrorism to bad recruitment. This claim is self indicting and provocative.  

    “Since 2019 when the Police forcefully snatched the exercise from the Commission, they have gone ahead against the provisions of the law to Superintendent over the 2020 and 2021 exercises. It is the fraudulent Recruits they brought into the system during these exercises that are currently haunting the Nigeria Police Force.

    “The Commission is aware that this current brazen show of power by the Police with attendant spurious allegations is to perpetuate their stranglehold on the recruitment of Constables, even against the judgment of the Supreme Court”.

    PSC said the assertion of recruiting persons who will commit suicide and who are deaf and dumb is uncharitable and preposterous, and that: “during recruitment exercises, the physical and medical screenings are handled by Police personnel, so if deaf and dumb persons and those with suicidal tendencies are recruited into the Force, then the Police personnel who screened and recommended them should be held responsible. 

    “The Commission is aware that all these distractions are calculated attempts by the Police to hold on, by all means, to the recruitment of Police Constables despite the Supreme Court Judgment. 

    “The commission wishes to appeal to Mr. President to protect it and rein in the Nigeria Police Force to respect the Constitutional Mandate of the Commission to recruit. The Nigeria Police Force is created to enforce the law and not to circumvent it in whatever guise”.

    The commission pleaded that the successful candidates should be allowed to proceed on training without delay.

  • Recruitment saga: PSC asks Tinubu to sack IGP

    Recruitment saga: PSC asks Tinubu to sack IGP

    The Police Service Commission (PSC) on Wednesday called on President Bola Tinubu to immediately sack the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun for undermining the police recruitment process.

    PSC also faulted the alleged corruption levelled against the PSC. 

    Briefing reporters in Abuja, Chairman of the Association of Senior Civil Servent of Nigeria (ASCSN) and Joint Union Congress of the Police Service Commission (PSC), Adoyi Adoyi expressed displeasure over what he described as false allegation against the PSC.

    Read Also: PANDEF faults Arase’s removal as PSC chair

    The IGP, at the weekend through a statement issued by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, alleged the recruitment process was marred with irregularities and corruption. 

    Adoyi said there was reliable information indicating that elements within the police Force attempted to smuggle over 1, 000 names into the recruitment list. 

    Details shortly…

  • Major shake-up as PSC appoints Abukakar DIG, promotes 122 senior officers

    Major shake-up as PSC appoints Abukakar DIG, promotes 122 senior officers

    The Police Service Commission (PSC) on Friday approved the appointment of Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), Yahaya Sahabo Abubakar as Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG).

    Abubakar was until his appointment the AIG in charge of Zone 14 Katsina.

    The police said he will represent the North East in the Police Management Team, replacing DIG Habu Sani who recently retired as DIG Force Intelligence Bureau and representing the Zone.

    The Commission also approved the promotion of 122 other senior Police Officers; 10 Commissioners of Police to the next rank of AIGs; 15 Deputy Commissioners of Police to substantive Commissioners and 36 Assistant Commissioners of Police to Deputy Commissioners. Sixty-one Chief Superintendents of Police were also elevated to the next rank of Assistant Commissioners of Police. 

    The decisions, according to a statement by the Head, Press and Public Relations, PSC, Ikechukwu Ani were taken at the extraordinary Management Meeting of the Commission held on Thursday,  June 6th, 2024 and presided over by the Chairman of the Commission, Solomon Arase.

    The 15  Deputy Commissioners of Police; 10 Commissioners  and AIG Abubakar appeared before the Commission in session for the compulsory interactive promotion interview which is one of the requirements for their promotion to the next rank. 

    The Commission Chairman at the interactive sessions told the Officers that in the emerging dynamic and ubiquity  of crime and criminality  within the revolution in  Information and Communication technology,  ” charting out pathways for effective  policing and internal security management  would have to necessarily  orient from informed crafting  and employment of applicable mix of strategies,  standard operating  procedures  and tactics by the Police, other law enforcement and regulatory agencies of the state, mainstreaming a knowledge driven Police Force staffed by mentally mobile work force refined  for optimum service delivery “.

    Arase charged them to be genuinely committed to their sacred responsibility of securing the Nigerian nation by effectively protecting lives and property, preventing and containing crimes and criminality across the nation.

    Read Also: PSC announces 10,000 successful candidates for police recruitment

    He pledged the Commission’s readiness to ensure that promotions of Officers and Men are regular and predictable. 

    The Commissioners of Police promoted to the new rank of AIGs are: Ahmed  Ammani, former CP Enugu and currently in ICT Department, Force Headquarters; Mohammed  Dankwara Adamu  Deputy Commandant Police Academy, Wudil Kano; Gumel Mohammed  Usaini, CP Kano State Command; Hamzat Adebola Ayinde, CP Oyo State Command; Okuoma Idegwu Basil, CP Elections, Force Headquarters Abuja; Achinyan Zachary’s Fera; CP FCID Enugu; Baba Zango Ibrahim, CP DFA, FCID, Abuja; Mohammed  Isyaku, CP Admin, FCID Annex Lagos and CP Margaret Agebe Ochalla, CP Police Special Fraud Unit Annex Lagos.

    DCP Bassey Samuel  Ewah, DC Admin, Department of Operations, Force Headquarters; Osagie John Agans-Irabor, SCID, Benue State Command; DCP Edem Ita Selong, Admin and Finance, Zone 9 Umuahia and DCP Monday Agbonika, Interpol Annex Lagos were promoted to the substantive rank of Commissioners of Police.

    Other Deputy Commissioners promoted to CPs were Michael Okoh, Department of Operations,  Zone 9 Umuahia; Ayodele Oluyemi Sonubi, State CID, Oyo State Command; Iyama Daniel Edobor, Operations Department, Bayelsa State Command; Isa Danladi Nda, SWAT, FCID Abuja; Akaniyene Ifebem Ezima Zonal CID, Zone 17 Akure and Livingston  Ikioye Orutugu, Commandant PMF Training School Ende Hills Jos.

    Others are DCP Bello Rashid Afegbua, Admin, Department of Training,  Force Headquarters, Abuja; Hycenth Azuka Edozie Force Operations FCID, FHQ Abuja; Haruna Alaba Yahaya, Interpol, FCID Abuja; Peter Ozigi Umoru, Zonal CID, Zone 8, Lokoja; Ayotunde Godwin Omodeinde, Operations Department, Cross Rivers State Command. 

    The 36 Assistant Commissioners of Police promoted to the next rank of Deputy Commissioners include; Obo Ukam Obo; Musibau Adeola Adedoyin; Lawal Bamidele  Adeshina and Anthony Okon Placid. Others are Onyeamu Akaeme Onyeamu, AC, Ops, Enugu State Command;  Suleiman  K. Bayonle, Commander PMF 20, Lagos; Asuquo  Effiong, Special  Investigation  Unit FHQ,  Abuja; Mustapha  A. Rufai, Area Commander Auchi; Victor Akongtendor Bepeh, DFA, BPF, Force Headquarters Abuja; Chinedu  Ugwu, Area Commander,  Oji River Enugu Command; Kingsley Ifeanyi  Woke SCID Ebonyi State Command; Issah Onize Lawal, Zonal CID Zone 2 Lagos and Ifeanyi  Aham Ohuruzo, Commander PMF 21 Abuja.

    The statement said the list of the promoted officers has been conveyed to the IGP for implementation and further necessary action. 

  • PSC confirms 20 centres to screen police applicants

    PSC confirms 20 centres to screen police applicants

    The Police Recruitment Board set up by the Police Service Commission (PSC) to midwife the ongoing recruitment into the Constable cadre of the Nigeria Police Force has confirmed 20 centres for the medical screening of successful and shortlisted applicants.

    The development is from the just-concluded computer based tests conducted by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB).

    The medical screening is one of the several processes put in place by the Board to evaluate the applicants for suitability for the job.

    The applicants were subjected to physical and credentials screening and later the Computer based test and will on April 16th, 2024 undergo the last of the screenings with the medical examination. 

    The medical screening, according to a statement on Thursday by the Head Press and Public Relations, Ikechukwu Ani, will last for two weeks.

    The 20 centres selected for the exercise  are ; Zone 1 Kano; Police cottage hospital Bompai, Kano; Zone 2 Lagos; Police College Ikeja; Zone 3 Yola, Police Clinic Yola; Zone 4, Makurdi, Police Clinic  Makurdi; Zone 5 , Benin, Police Cottage hospital,  Benin and Zone 6, Calabar, Police hospital  Calabar.

    Other centres are, Zone 7, Abuja, MD Abubakar Police Hospital  Dei Dei Abuja; Zone 8 Lokoja, Police Clinic, Lokoja; Zone 9 , Umuahia, Police Hospital Umuahia, Zone 10, Sokoto, PTS Clinic Sokoto; Zone 11 Osogbo, Police Hospital  Osogbo; Zone12 Bauchi, PTS Clinic Bauchi; Zone 13 Ukpo, Police Hospital Awka; Zone 14, Katsina, Ibrahim Coomassie Cottage Hospital  Katsina; Zone 15 Maiduguri, Police College, Maiduguri and Zone 16,  yenagoa, Zone 16 Headquarters Yenagoa.

    Ani said: “The other four centres are; Zone 17, Akure, Police Hospital Akure; Zone 18, Yobe, Utral Modern Police Hospital, Gashua Road, Damaturu; Zone 19, Kaduna, Police College Clinic Kaduna and Zone 20, Gusau,  Police Secondary School clinic Zaria Road Gusau”.

    The candidates for the medical screening, Ani said have already been contacted on the dates and time for their screening. 

    Chairman of the Commission, Solomon Arase, retired Inspector General of Police also prayed for a successful conclusion of the recruitment exercise. 

    He advised the applicants to ensure that they keep to the dates and time allocated to them, adding that medical professionals have been selected to examine their medical status which is one of the requirements for the recruitment. 

    Read Also: PSC shifts applicants’ medical screening to April 16

    Arase said successful applicants will report at designated Police Colleges for the mandatory training. 

    The statement went further that: “The Police Recruitment Board has Chief Onyemuche Nnamani Commissioner of the Police Service Commission as Chairman and assisted by DIG Frank Mbah, DIG Training. 

    “Deputy Commissioner of Police Bode Akinbamilowo is Secretary of the Board and Assisted by Sanusi Yusuf, an Assistant Director with the Police Service Commission. 

    “Membership of the Board are drawn from the Police Service Commission, Nigeria Police Force, Ministry of Police Affairs, Federal Character Commission,  Police Trust Fund and Police Colleges”.

  • PSC shifts applicants’ medical screening to April 16

    PSC shifts applicants’ medical screening to April 16

    The Police Service Commission (PSC) has rescheduled the date for the medical screening/examination of candidates applying into the Constable cadre of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) from April 2 to April 16.

    The rescheduled date, PSC said, is due to the ongoing Muslim Ramadan fast and Christian Lenten season.

    The screening will last two weeks and end the exercise. 

    The medical screening and examination of candidates are expected to be held in the 17 zonal command headquarters of the NPF.

    The exercises scheduled for Kaduna, Yobe and Zamfara states have been accorded special considerations because of the security challenges in those states.

    Read Also: No ransom paid for school children’s release – Fed Govt

    A statement yesterday in Abuja by PSC’s Head of Press and Public Relations, Ikechukwu Ani, said candidates from the thyree states are to do the screening and practical tests in their states of origin. 

    The statement said: “Due to the ongoing Muslim Ramadan fast and the Christian Lenten period, the date for the medical screening/examination for candidates for police recruitment into the Constable cadre of the Nigeria Police Force has been rescheduled to commence on Tuesday, April 16, 2024 to allow for the conclusion of these religious obligations.”

  • PSC promotes 1,607 DSPs

    PSC promotes 1,607 DSPs

    • •Arase: commission has restored dignity of specialists cadre

    The Police Service Commission (PSC) has approved the promotion of 1,607 Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSPs) to the next rank of Superintendents (SPs).

    The commission had stepped down the consideration of the officers’ promotion at its last management meeting where other recommendations were considered.

    It had said some discrepancies were notices in the list.

    There was also the promotion of 158 officers in the professional cadre, including 105 in the Communication Unit, 22 in Transport, 10 medical officers, nine nurses and another nine from Works.

    Other professionals promoted to Superintendents are: six Workshop officers, three in Maritime, and one each in Medical and Dental units, as well as on in the Band unit.

    A total number of 1,423 DSPs were promoted in the General Duty cadre.

    PSC Chairman Solomon Arase said the commission had restored the dignity of the Specialists cadre in the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

    A statement yesterday in Abuja by the commission’s Head of Press and Public Relations, Ikechukwu Ani, said Arase promised that the PSC would continue to give equal opportunities to all cadres in the police force.

    The PSC chairman said the era where Specialists were stagnated in one rank was over.

    He added that the NPF needed the Specialists for efficient and effective policing.

    Arase also promised that the commission would continue to accord them the required privileges.

    Read Also: Time has preserved Awo’s principles, legacies – Tinubu

    The chairman said the General Duty officers would also continue to receive PSC’s support for prompt and regular promotions.

    He urged the newly promoted officers to reciprocate the commission’s gesture by rededicating themselves to the service of their fatherland.

    Arase warned that the PSC would discipline any officer who undermines police ethics, rules, and regulations guiding their conduct.

    The chairman also warned them to stay away from land matters and recovery of rents and other issues that could be resolved through alternative dispute resolution or legal processes.

    He added: “You need to concentrate in helping the nation win this war against insurgency and banditry. Remember that the police force is the lead agency in internal security.”

  • PSC promotes 1,897 senior police officers

    PSC promotes 1,897 senior police officers

    • Zone 12 boss Galadanci now DIG

    The Police Service Commission (PSC) yesterday approved the promotion of 1,897 senior officers to their next substantive ranks.

     The commission elevated 14 Commissioners of Police (CPs) to the next rank of Assistant Inspectors General (AIG) of Police.

     But one of the police commissioners for promotion to the rank of AIG was stepped down to enable the commission review pending disciplinary matters against the officer, an issue that was sent to the commission by the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

    The PSC also approved the appointment of Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of Police Dasuki Galadanci in-charge of Zone 12 in Bauchi as a Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police to represent the Northwest.

     He will replace DIG Ibrahim Sani Ka’oje, who is expected to retire on February 2.

    Read Also: PSC appoints Galadanci DIG, promotes 1,897 senior police officers

     A statement in Abuja by PSC’s Head of Press and Public Relations, Ikechukwu Ani, reads: “The commission also promoted 21 Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs) to the substantive rank of Commissioners of Police (CPs), 20 Assistant Commissioners (ACPs) to Deputy Commissioners (DCPs), 109 Chief Superintendents (CSPs) to Assistant Commissioners (ACPs), and 184 Superintendents (SPs) to Chief Superintendents (CSPs).

     “It also considered and approved the promotion of 1,549 Assistant Superintendents (ASPs) to Deputy Superintendents (DSPs).

     “The commission’s Chairman, Dr. Solomon Arase (retired Inspector General of Police), who presided over the management meeting of the commission, has accordingly given anticipatory approval for the appointment of one DIG and promotion of 1,897 senior police officers recommended to the commission by the Inspector General of Police (IGP).”

  • PSC appoints Galadanci DIG, promotes 1,897 senior police officers

    PSC appoints Galadanci DIG, promotes 1,897 senior police officers

    The Police Service Commission (PSC) on Wednesday, January 24, approved the appointment of Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of Police, Dasuki Galadanci AIG in charge of Zone 12 Bauchi as a Deputy Inspector General of Police to representing the North West Geopolitical zone of the country.

    He will replace DIG Ibrahim Sani Ka’oje who is expected to retire 2nd of February this year.

    PSC also approved the promotion of 1,897 senior Police Officers to their next substantive ranks.

    The Commission elevated 14 Commissioners of Police to the next rank of Assistant Inspectors General of Police.

    However, one of the Commissioners for promotion to AIG stepped down to enable the Commission to review the Pending Disciplinary Matters against the Officer which was sent to the Commission by the Nigeria Police Force.

    The new AIGs are: Yetunde O. Longe, CP Eastern Ports, Portharcourt; Haruna Gabriel Garba, CP Federal Capital Territory; Tajudeen Akinwale Abass, CP Delta State;   Rex Dundun, CP General Investigation, FCID Annex Kaduna; Durosinmi Olatoye, CP Akwa Ibom State;  Afolabi Babatola Adeniyi, CP Adamawa State;  Abiodun Oladimeji Asabi, CP Ondo State;  CP  Julius Alawari Okoro; CP Plateau state;  George Chijioke Chuku, CP Benue State; Paul Alifa Omata, CP K9 Force Headquarters; Yusuf Adesina Akeem, CP Research and Development, Force Headquarters; Bzigu Yakabu kwazhi Dali, CP Osun State;  Idris Nagoyo, Police Mounted troop Squadron and Cp Ogundare Dare Emmanuel, Cp Ekiti state.

    According to a statement issued by the Head of Press and Public Relations, Ikechukwu Ani: “The Commission also promoted 21 Deputy Commissioners of Police to the substantive rank of Commissioners; 20 Assistant Commissioners to Deputy Commissioners, 109 Chief Superintendents to Assistant Commissioners and 184 Superintendents to Chief Superintendents.

    “It also considered and approved the promotion of 1549 Assistant Superintendents to Deputy Superintendents.

    “The Commission Chairman,  Dr. Solomon Arase, retired Inspector General of Police who presided over the Management Meeting of the Commission has accordingly given anticipatory approval for the appointment of one DIG and promotion of  1897 senior Police Officers recommended to the Commission by the Inspector General of Police.

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    “The 14 Commissioners of Police and 21 Deputy Commissioners appeared before the Management of the Commission for an interactive promotion interview, a condition precedent for their elevation to the next ranks.

    “Arase at the interactive session charged the Officers to quickly settle down to their new ranks and go forth and win the war against banditry, kidnapping and violent crimes in the country.

    “He said the nation is facing an avoidable unprecedented wave of criminal assaults on all fronts and said the Commission is uncomfortable with the trend of events.

    “The PSC Chairman enjoined the Officers to settle down and crime map their various areas of responsibility by being conversant with trends and patterns of crimes in their domain and should be able to engage in predictive policing to mitigate the current criminal disorders by criminal gangs now marauding across the length and breadth of the country.

    As senior Officers, he said they must be held responsible for any relapse in the security apparatus of the nation, adding that they must see their new ranks as a call to greater dedication to the service of their fatherland.

    “These promotions should further ignite the indomitable fighting spirit of the Officers and Men”, he admonished the newly promoted Officers.

    He said: “The Deputy Commissioners promoted to the next rank of substantive Commissioners are; Olanrewaju  Peter Ogunlowo, Assistant  Chief of Mission in Somalia; Mohammed  Dahiru, DCP State CID Adamawa; Sunday Olukayode,  DCP Operations, Plateau State; Peter Ukachi Opara, DCP Admin, Imo State; Illiyasu Yahaya Kwarbai, DCP investagion Zonal Command Bauchi; Bello Mohammed Sani, DCP Projects Monitoring, IGP Secretariat;  Mohammed  Umar Abba, DCP State CID, Delta Command; Dankombo Faling Morris, DCP Ops Adamawa  Command; Bello Shehu, National Defence College; Ibrahim Balarabe Maikaba; DCP Zonal CID Kano; Ahmed Musa, DCP  State CID, FCT Cmd, Olohundare Moshood Jimoh, former Force Public Relations Officer and currently DCP General Investigation  Unit, FCID Annex, Gombe; Simeon Udofia Akpanudom, DCP Ops Cross Rivers State Command; Olugbemiga Emmanuel Adesina, DCP Benue State Command and David Iloyanomon, DCP Administration. Anambra Command.

    “Others are; Haruna Olufemi, DCP Force Intelligence Bureau; Rose Chollom Dung, DCP Administration,  Bauchi Command; Obono Nnaghe Itam, DCP Operations Zone 6 Calabar; Adedamola Waheed Ayilara, DCP FCID Panti Lagos; Abel Jangnap Miri Zwalchir, DCP ICT Administration Force Headquarters and Ifeanyi Uka DCP/ second in Command Works, Force Headquarters Abuja.

    “The 20 Assistant Commissioners of Police promoted to Deputy Commissioners, include;  Gerald Ngoziabata, Nigerian Army Resource Centre;  Okenla Oluseyi ACP DFA, Cooperatives, Lagos; Olubunmi Fakeye, ACP Police College Ikeja; Ayodeji Adelogagunduro, Area Commander  Ayetoro, Ogun State; Samuel Dalti Dang of Armament section, Force Headquarters;

    “Some of the CSPs promoted to Assistant Commissioners are; Casmir Ihiezu, Lagos Command; Charity Belema Megbope, Ogun Command; Gamaliel Alex, Rivers State Command; Sani Ahmed, DPO Awada Anambra stste; Cecilia Aniedy Udo, DPO  Mini Okoro, Portharcourt; CSP Dalapo Badmos, CSP Administration  Provost Marshal Force Headquarters; Adamu Ahmadu, Commander C41 Intelligence Unit, Rivers State Command; CSP Collins Eruogu, former Commanding Officer 33PMF and presently Commander AKS/RRS Anambra State Command; CSP Isreal Effiong  Ukpong 2/ic 19PMF Portharcourt; CSP Linus Uche Nwaiwu, Police Training school, Nekede,  Imo state; CSP Onoh Charles, CSP Administration  ICT, Force Headquarters; CSP Abubakar Abdulkarim, DPO Kubwa FCT; CSP Taiwo Oladipupo Akingbehin,  Commander EOD, Force Headquarters  Annex Ikeja; CSP Moses Odu Osor, Zone 7 Abuja; CSP Garba Bala, DPO Dawakin, FCT; CSP Benjamin  Igometi  and CSP Chinna Joe-Iruobe of the Veterinary section, Force Headquarters.

    “Some of the 184 Officers promoted to CSP from the rank of SPs are; Victor Olowola; Ibrahim Abdullahi; Hassiani Audu; Stephen Bob Samuel; Mohammed Alhaji; Onukafor Kingsley Nkuma, CSP to the Governor of Anambra State; Fabian Iloabanafor, Commander CP Monitoring and Surveillance team, Ebonyi state Command; Luka Paul Sambo, DPO New Benin, Benin City, Edo State and Agboni Jacob Christopher, 54 PMF, Onitsha”.

    The statement said the approval has been conveyed to the Inspector General of Police for implementation.

  • Saints and sinners

    Saints and sinners

    • Contrary to ex-IGP Arase’s belief, both the police and constabularies need deliverance from unethical practices

    Not a few Nigerians would have laughed at the suggestion by chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), Solomon Arase, that the Special Police Constabulary needs to be overhauled, given a separate uniform different from that of regular policemen, or disbanded outright because they engage in unethical practices, thus staining the image of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF). But it is not a laughing matter.

    A statement by the PSC spokesperson, Ikechukwu Ani, said “Reports of their unprofessional conduct range from high-handedness in dealing with citizens, and barefaced extortion on our roads and communities. The commission calls for an entirely different set of uniforms for officers of the outfit that should be easily differentiated from that of the regular police officers.” It added that “there have been several reports of unprofessional conduct by officers of the outfit, a quasi-police formation created to assist in community policing.” 

    Even if he wanted to be partisan, Arase has clearly gone beyond limit and should therefore not just be ignored because we are talking of an issue as crucial as security. Asking that the uniform of the constabulary be changed as a way of distinguishing between it and the NPF on the basis that the former is corrupt and therefore staining the latter, is wrong. As they say, ”the hood does not make the monk”. Unfortunately, this has been the usual belief of many of our IGPs in the past: change the uniform and our policemen would start smelling like roses.

    The police force had changed its men’s uniform several times in the past, and one of the usual reasons adduced for such change was that it would help improve the image of the force. As a matter of fact, the NPF is about the only security agency in the country that has kept changing uniforms in its attempts to improve its battered image. That police image has not improved despite the several changes of uniform shows that uniform change alone is not enough; other things have to change to get positive result. There must, for instance, be change of attitude on the part of the officers and men, there must be improvement in their welfare and tools of work, etc. Our policemen who used to excel in external engagements did so not because of the uniforms but because of other factors, including but not limited to personality traits.

    But this is not a debate about police uniform per se. It is just to point out that if we need to distinguish the regular police from the constabulary, it should be for some other reasons and not because that would help in separating the wheat from the chaff. There are wheat and chaff in both organisations.

    Arase has only shown the usual contempt of most regular police officers to the idea of having anything that would exist side-by-side with the regular policemen for internal security. We know how some states, like the southwest states, had to defy every authority to have ‘Amotekun’. The police hierarchy did not want the idea to come into fruition. We also know the extent the police force has been working to ensure that state police does not see the light of day. The NPF is like a typical housewife: no rival.

    Yet, it is obvious that the force alone  cannot maintain internal security. We had experimented with that in the past and discovered its inadequacies. It is because the police alone cannot ensure internal security that we have had to come up with the idea of joint military/police patrols in several states of the federation. There was even a time we had such arrangement in more than 28 of the 36 states in the federation!

    It may be true that, as Arase said, “The commission has observed that these set of men (the constabularies) have descended on innocent Nigerians for their daily upkeep through forceful extortion and intimidation”. But then, that is not limited to the constabularies. Even regular policemen vent their spleen on hapless Nigerians. When their employers, whether federal or state governments do not provide for the upkeep of people they have given the mandate to protect the citizens, that is the result you get. Just as a people get the kind of government they deserve; they also get the kind of policemen they deserve, be they regular policemen or constabularies.

    We have seen several IGPs banning and unbanning checkpoints at various times in this country because of corruption. These checkpoints are usually manned by regular policemen; not constabularies. We have seen regular policemen involved in daylight extortion of innocent motorists, some resulting in deaths where the motorists appear uncooperative. We had even seen policemen fight dirty, again, sometimes resulting in fatalities, over bribe, among themselves, long before the coming of the constabularies.

    But we cannot blame the officers and men of the NPF for all of these offences or crimes. A lot is wrong with the force that successive leaderships of the police have not been able to correct despite their efforts. Apparently, some are beyond the force itself.

    Read Also: Traffic wardens send SOS to IGP, NASS, NSA, PSC over conditions of service

    For sure, the idea of Special Police Constabulary  is not peculiar to Nigeria. In Nigeria, however, it was started by the Buhari administration in 2020, to assist in community policing, especially at the grassroots. That was long after the initial attempts in the 1960s. Unfortunately, it appears the Buhari government just created them without making provision for how they would be paid or rewarded.

    Just  about six months ago, precisely in June, the General Number 1 of Oyo State Chapter of the constabulary, Taofeek Akinpelu, also known as ‘Awise’, appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during a peaceful protest to do something to ameliorate their plight. He said back then that only two states, Lagos and Akwa Ibom, were paying their constabularies salaries while those in Abuja got stipend.

    Hear Awise:  “We are the special Constabulary recruited in October 2020 by the Federal Government to give support to the Nigeria Police Force to help fight crime at the grassroot level. Then we were trained on police operations and were also  given police uniform, so we perform duties just like a police officer too.

    “Since our recruitment in year 2020 we have been working hard towards fighting crime in our various stations despite not being paid.” Awise said Oyo State where they were serving said it was not its business to pay them since they were recruited by the Federal Government: 

    As it is, they are just like people who have been abandoned to their fate. Nigeria is probably one of such places where government would train and give uniform to security personnel without making provision for their welfare. It is not known whether the situation persists or not. But then, if we know our country very well, it is doubtful if the situation would have improved substantially. 

    I would have understood Mr Arase’s frustration if he had not made the regular police to look like saints while attempting to paint the constabularies as sinners. I know he may also have challenges as chairman of the PSC that are beyond him. May be he is also not happy with the position of his men. But his suggestion that uniforms of constabularies be changed so that they are not mistaken for regular policemen when they engage in unethical practices is out of it. There are good men in the police force just as there are even in the constabularies, and vice versa.

    As a matter of fact, there is no empirical evidence to support Arase’s assertion. Rather, there is enough evidence, both empirical and physical, to nail the NPF where corruption is the issue. Lest we forget, the NPF, power sector, education, judiciary and health ministry were ranked the top five most corrupt institutions in Nigeria in 2019. Indeed, the police then led the pack in the survey carried out by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), across the six geopolitical zones in the country, including the Federal Capital Territory.

    Kolawole Oluwadare, Deputy Director of SERAP said: ” A bribe is paid in 54 per cent of interactions with the police. In fact, there is a 63 per cent probability that an average Nigerian would be asked to pay a bribe each time he or she interacted with the police. That is almost two out of three.” Till tomorrow, bribe still exchanges hands as ‘bail money’ in several police stations across the country despite the ‘bail is free’ posters in those places.

    A similar survey conducted by Transparency International (TI) in partnership with Practical Sampling International, from April 26 to May 10, 2017, also fingered the NPF as one of the most corrupt public agencies in Nigeria, alongside the National Assembly and the judiciary.

    If today another survey is conducted on corruption in Nigeria, there is no doubt that the police would still rank high on the index. So, on what basis is Mr Arase seeking new uniform to differentiate between the police and the special constabulary?

    The Tinubu government has to decide what it wants to do with the constabularies. If it thinks they are doing fairly well, then it should work out how they would be remunerated and retooled for better result. If otherwise, it should disband them, but not before rewarding them for their past services. After all, the country has not stopped paying the regular policemen (even if the pay is nothing to write home about), in spite of their shortcomings.

    Mr Arase’s suggestion can only work after our regular police officers have been weaned off this idea of not wanting anything to exist or share the responsibility of maintaining internal security with them, despite the obvious fact that they can’t go it alone.

    Indeed, good as Arase’s suggestion is, it is not going to help us in our quest for internal security, which is the basic responsibility of any government. The suggestion is what a friend calls a good but impracticable suggestion (imoran to dara sugbon ti ko see mu lo).

  • PSC calls for overhaul of special police constabulary, demands different uniform

    PSC calls for overhaul of special police constabulary, demands different uniform

    The Police Service Commission (PSC) has raised an alarm over the operations of the Special Police Constabulary nationwide.

    PSC said the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun has already been contacted on the need to overhaul the organisation and operations of the outfit.

    PSC said there have been several reports of unprofessional conduct by officers of the outfit, a quasi-police formation created to assist in community policing.

    According to a statement issued on Thursday by the PSC Head, Press, and Public Relations, Ikechukwu Ani: “The Police Service Commission is no longer comfortable with the organisation and operations of the Special Police Constabulary nationwide.

    “Reports of their unprofessional conduct range from high-handedness in dealing with citizens and bare-faced extortion on our roads and communities.

    “The Commission calls for an entirely different set of uniforms for Officers of the outfit that should be easily differentiated from that of the regular Police Officers.

    “This, it noted, will help to track appropriately the conduct of men of the outfit and that of the regular Police Officers and free the Nigeria Police Force from blame associated with the misconduct of men of the outfit.

    “The Commission further calls for the disbandment of the outfit in states where they are not salaried and taken care of.

    Read Also: Payment of N2000 for screening for police recruitment fake, says PSC

    “It noted that it was dangerous to arm a group of people and license them to provide security, maintain law and order in states and communities across the country without basic financial remuneration.

    “The Commission has observed that these set of men have descended on innocent Nigerians for their daily upkeep through forceful extortion and intimidation.”

    The chairman of the Commission, Dr. Solomon Arase, said the Commission will work with the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force to sanitize the organisation and operations of the outfit.

    He said there is an urgent need to differentiate the Special Constabulary from regular Police Officers and clearly define their operations, including uniforms and rules of engagement.