A 3-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN TO REPOSITION NIGERIA POLICE IN PROCESS – POLICE SERVICE COMMISSION

The Police Service Commission is to embark on a three-year strategic plan to reposition the Nigeria Police for a more effective policing of the country.

The Chairman of the Commission and retired Inspector-General of Police, Alhaji Musliu Smith, stated this at the opening of a four-day retreat for the management of the Police Service Commission in Enugu.

In a paper entitled “From potential to Mandate Delivery,” a representative of one of the development partners, the Ford Foundation, Mr. Innocent Chukwuma, explained that the tendency for abuse of power by the police cuts across officers inmany parts of the word, which necessitated a model of oversight both from within and outside the force.

These recommendations included periodic meetings between the police and Police Service Commission, with civil society organizations, which would engender trust with the public as well as adequate and strategic budgeting for the Nigeria Police.

“Without doubt, Nigeria today is bedeviled with security challenges, ranging from insurgency to intra-organisational hiccups within the security forces including the police.

“How, for instance, do we supervise and regulate the police in the 2019 general election when the police are viewed with suspicion of partisanship by the police?

“How do we deal with allegations of human rights abuses brought against our officers?

“What is the best way to position our police to enhance their crime fighting abilities in line with best practices?

“Weighty questions indeed. But they have not really been left unanswered as the Police Service Commission is already taking steps to improve the professionalism within the force. Steps which we hope will be further consolidated at the end of the retreat,” Smith stated

In his presentation, the Chairman House Committee on Police Affairs, Alhaji Tijai Kaura, stressed that the police required every support from the government and the people to be able to carry out its mandate effectively, especially with the high level of criminality in the country presently.

Declaring the event open, the Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, represented by the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Cecilia Ezeilo, emphasized that security of lives and property remained a top priority of the administration and pledged continued support to security agencies in the state.

Earlier in a remark, the Enugu State Commissioner of Police, Danmallam Mohammed, observed that the co-operation of the State Government, relevant stakeholders and proactive strategies of the Command ensured that Enugu State remained one of the right environments for the retreat.

In their goodwill messages, representatives of some key development partners, National Coordinator and Chief Executive of SERVICOM, Mrs. Nnenna Aka mejeneli, the Deputy General of Bureau of Public Service Reforms, represented by Mr. Kizito Curas and the Team Leader, Nigeria, Policing Programme, Mrs. Kemi Oyenyodo all agreed that the retreat was relevant and timely.

CHINASA EZEONYEBUCHI