Peter Duru
20 November 2008
The Police Service Commission (PSC) exercised its powers in another dimension yesterday by approving the recall of 10,000 policemen said to have been wrongfully dismissed by the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
This cheery news which will, without doubt, calm the nerves of affected officers and their dependents nationwide, will also have a positive effect on the public opinion of the commission which took a nose-dive following the demotion in August, of some officers it considered not properly promoted.
Former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribudu, was one of those affected in the demotion exercise, dropping from the rank of an Assistant Inspector-General of Police to Deputy Commissioner.
The recalled 10,000 Policemen's dismissal was described as illegal and in total negation of the principles of rule of law and due process, by the Chairman of the Commission, Mr. Parry Osayande (DIG) (rtd), at an interactive session with officers and men of the Zone 4 Police Command in Makurdi.
He said the decision to reinstate the disengaged policemen was in line with the wind of change blowing through the service, emphasizing that the principles of equity, fairplay, justice will continue to guide the decisions of the Commission.
"The previous administration sacked over 10,000 policemen but we have decided to reinstate them and our decision is based on the fact that the termination of their service was illegal and not done in line with the principles of rule of law and due process," the chairman said.
DIG Osayande (rtd) warned officers and men of the force against lobbying the commission for promotion and postings, saying the era of relying on godfathers and indiscriminate movement of officers and men were over, stressing that henceforth all promotions in the police will be based on seniority, availability of vacancy and merit.
"On the issue of promotion in the Force, the Police Service Commission (PSC) will only observe the principle of federal character at the point of entry and after that, every promotion in the Force will be based on individual performances, seniority and vacancy. Nobody will engage in illegal promotion of men and officers from the Force Headquarters as used to be the case," he said.
He assured that the PSC would subject men and officers of the Force to training and retraining, being one of the new policy directions of the Commission.
On the condition of police barracks and formations visited by the team in the zone, a member of the Commission, Ms Comfort Obi, lamented the near total absence of decent barracks facilities and conducive work environment for the police in the state.
She cautioned officers and men against illegal conducts just as she sued for understanding and cooperation from members of the public to get the best from the service.
During a courtesy visit on the Tor Tiv, Ochivere Alfred Torkula, the royal father advised the Commission to critically address the issue of fortifying the police with sophisticated weapons, maintaining that robbers now parade better weapons than the police.
The royal father noted that criminals now find the hinterlands as safe haven, imploring the Commission to consider drafting more policemen to the rural areas.
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