- Says It’s A Waste Of Tax Payer’s Money… A Threat To National Security
- Sues For Peace… Asks Presidency, NASS To Initiate Reconciliatory Moves
By Gbenga Abulude (Politics and General Desk)
Amid the call for a complete overhaul of the Nigeria Police Force, following days of protest against police brutality in the country, a non-governmental organisation, the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) has urged the Police Service Commission (PSC) and the management team of the Force, headed by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr Mohammed Adamu to settle their differences in the interest of Nigerians.
CISLAC who weighed in on the feud between the police and PSC observed that the current legal tussle will bring a lot of disadvantages to the country.
The PSC had dragged the Police Force to court over IGP’s refusal to comply with the directive of the commission in attaching presidential approval for the creation of additional police zonal commands and departments from where the vacancies for the recommended officers were sourced from.
Recall a court of appeal in Abuja two weeks ago, nullified the recruitment of 10,000 constables carried out by Adamu.
The court ruled that the IGP lacked the power to make the recruitment for the police force, adding that recruitment of officers was exclusively that of the commission.
The commission also stood down the promotion of 13 commissioners of police, eight deputy commissioners of police, and 91 chief superintendents of police.
The IGP has since filed an appeal at the Supreme Court.
In a statement made available to The New Diplomat, Mr Auwal Ibrahim Musa, Executive Director of CISLAC, said both organs of the police were right in their actions relying on different sections of the law.
He said the Commission based its decision on constitutional provisions which grant it powers to appoint, promote, demote, dismiss and discipline any police officer apart from the IG.
However, he noted the IGP had relied on Police Act 1967 (No 41) which provides for the organisation and administration of the police force to harbour constables and Section 71 of the Nigeria Police Service Regulations, 1968, which gives the power to enlist constables to the Police Council and the Nigeria Police Force under the control of the IG.
The CISLAC boss, who gave reasons, appealed to all parties to reconsider their grandstanding in the interest of Nigeria and Nigerians.
“First, tax payers monies are already spent to recruit, train, equip and deploy this large number of personnel before the pronouncement by the court.
The first question that readily comes to mind is whether we want to further open the valve of revenue waste in an era where government is clamouring for structural adjustment and plugging revenue leakages and wastage. This might then be a huge missed opportunity if concerned parties refuse to sheath their swords.
“Secondly, there is already a tower of insecurity in the country which this recruitment abnitio was set out to curtail. Nigerians are regularly kidnapped and maimed by criminal elements in the country with little response from the police. The regular excuse is that the ratio of police per citizens is weak due to the challenge with manpower. It becomes a clear case of ‘two elephants involved in a thug of war, the grass would largely bear the brunt.’ The IG, as well as the PSC, should kindly consider the plight of Nigerians and make a u-turn on the legal tussle.
“Thirdly, Global Terrorism Index has ranked Nigeria worse and we do not want to compound that with our various internal wrangling. This is a time to be more decisive in employing every strategy that can support the ongoing campaign against rural banditry, terrorism, farmer-herder conflict, ungoverned spaces, et al. Additional manpower to the police is one of such strategies and we prevail on both parties to drop personal interest and pursue national interest. We must not be cosmetic about this, all is not well with our internal security architecture.
“Recent reports which emerged have shown how those who deserted or have received security training in one way or the other get involved in criminality. Having a prior knowledge of the modus operandi of the security institutions, they clear off aggression from these security institutions since they have received training from the same institution and are a threat to the society.
“Our fear is that if this situation is allowed to prevail we may have ended up training an army of criminal groups to recruit from, which is not in the best interest of the country,” he posited.
Musa, also known as Rafsanjani wants the Presidency and National Assembly to initiate an urgent reconciliatory structure in order to resolve this lingering but dangerous trend that might be a bad template for future reference or an enemy from within.
“We urge the federal government to weigh in to have an amicable impasse between the PSC and the police management team in ensuring that the recruitment of 10,000 constables are not dislodged.
“We also want an infrastructure for effective coordination and communication be put in place between the PSC and the IG which must serve as an internal grievance mechanism which reduces a situation of seeking redress in court,” he added.
