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Tag: PSC

  • PSC appoints police commissioners in eight states

    PSC appoints police commissioners in eight states

    The police Service Commission (PSC) has appointed eight new police commissioners across states in the country.

    Alamatu, Abiodun Mustapha  is among the eight new police commissioners appointed by the Police Service Commission (PSC).

    Alamatu will assume duties as the commissioner of Police in Ogun state.

    According to a statement on Friday, Ikechukwu Ani, the Head of Press and Public Relations, “the Commission approved the appointment and deployment of eight Commissioners of Police to State Commands.”

    The newly-appointed State Commissioners of Police are; Godwin Aghaulor, Borno State; Adelesi E. Oluwarotimi, Kwara State; Adebola Ayinde Hamzat, Oyo State; Augustina Ogbodo, Ebonyi State; Samuel Titus Musa, Kebbi State; Aderemi Olufemi Adeoye, Anambra State; Stephen Olarewaju, Imo State; and Alamatu Abiodun Mustapha, Ogun State.

  • PSC rolls out guidelines for deployment of Police chiefs

    PSC rolls out guidelines for deployment of Police chiefs

    The Police Sevice Commission (PSC) has approved new policy guidelines for the deployment of Management and Tactical Commanders in the Nigeria Police.

    Mr Ikechukwu Ani,  the Head of Press and Public Relations of PSC said this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

    He said the guideline include gender-senstivity in the deployment of Assistant Inspectors-General of Police (AIGs) and Commissioners of Police (CPs) to Zones and state commands.

    Ani said the commission approved the policy guidelines at its 21st Plenary Meeting, presided by its Chairman, Dr Solomon Arase.

    He said meeting also said that the Police Force must be guided by federal character principle in recruitment at all levels and deployment of personnel at management and tactical levels.

    The PSC spokesman said this was to ensure balance, equity and fairness in the system.

    Ani said the commission during the sitting observed that the current deployment of CPs to state commands left much to be desired in reflecting the principle of equity and fairness to all geo-political zones.

    He said the current statistics of the deployments was against the North East and South East geopolitical zones.

    “It has become extremely important that a fair representation of all geo-political zones is always reflected in these deployments to eschew and address the feeling and sense of marginalisation and injustice.”

    He said the PSC meeting agreed that henceforth deployment of CPs to states must ensure that the disadvantaged zones were considered first in the proposals to the commission, to redress the present imbalance and lopsided deployments.

    According to him, all geo-political zones of the country must now have at least 15 per cent representation in the deployment of AIGs to zones and CPs to states.

    He said the 15 per cent representation must also be observed in the posting of Commanding Officers of Police Mobile Force, Counter-Terrorism CTU and Special Protection Unit (SPU).

    Ani further said that the meeting agreed that all deployments to zones and commands at Management and Tactical levels must recognise the heterogeneity of the country and reflect fairness and equity in terms of ethnicity and religion.

    He enjoined the Inspector General of Police (I-G) to be guided appropriately by the policy guidelines founded on principles of fairness and justice.

    Ani said the Commission observed the continuous practice of lopsided deployments of only male police officers to zones and commands with no fair consideration and representation of qualified female officers.

    According to Ani, the PSC believes that if not checked, the practice would in no time portray the police as a gender unfriendly organisation and averse to women inclusivity in governance.

    “The Commission also considered and approved that at least three state Commands out of the 30 commands must have female police officers as CPs.

    “It has also been approved that out of the 17 Zonal Headquarters, at least one zone must have a female AIG as the head,” Ani said.

  • PSC approves salary payment for 2021/2022 police recruits

    PSC approves salary payment for 2021/2022 police recruits

    The Police Service Commission (PSC) has approved salary payments for the 2021/2022 police recruits who had passed out of Police Colleges and in formal police work.

    Mr Ikechukwu Ani, the Head of Press and Public Relations of PSC, said this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

    He said the affected recruits, serving in various police commands and formations, had been in service for the past six months without salary.

    Ani said tne approval for the salary payment was in the interest of national security, anchored on the need to amicably resolve the lingering issues of recruitment between PSC and the Nigeria Police Force.

    The PSC spokesman said the issue had occasioned untold hardship on the Police Constables.

    He said the decision was also, in response to outcry and appeals from Nigerians that the 2021/2022 police recruits were yet to be enrolled into the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).

    “The complaint is that, the batch of recruits have not received salaries, six months after passing out from the Police Colleges and duly posted to Police Commands and formations for active Police work.

    “The outcry is to ensure that the recruits are not made victims of the face off between the Commission and the Nigeria Police Force,” he said.

    Ani said the commission had conveyed its approval for the enrollment of 1007 recruited police personnel in the 2021/2022 batch into the IPPIS payment platform to the Accountant General of the Federation.

  • PSC approves dismissal of 3 officers, reduces rank of 5 others

    PSC approves dismissal of 3 officers, reduces rank of 5 others

    The Police Service Commission (PSC) has approved the dismissal of three police officers and reduction in rank of five others.

    Mr Ikechukwu Ani, the Head of Press and Public Relations of PSC said in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja that 20 other officers were severely reprimanded.

    He said the dismissed officers were three Assistant Superintendents of Police, while those affected by reduction in rank include an Assistant Commissioner, a Chief Superintendent, two Superintendents and one Assistant Superintendent .

    Ani said those severely reprimanded were an Assistant Commissioner of Police, a Chief Superintendent of Police, four Superintendents, two Deputy Superintendents and 12 Assistant Superintendents..

    He said the decisions were taken during the 20th Plenary Meeting of the Commission, presided over by its Chairman, Dr Solomon Arase.

    Ani said the meeting treated 43 pending disciplinary matters, appeals and petitions.

    The PSC spokesman said the Commission’s Chairman had pledged to prioritise police officers welfare anc deal decisively with cases of infractions where necessary.

    He said the meeting also approved the reprimand of six officers, one Superintendent and five Assistant Superintendents.

    Ani added that the promotion of 109 senior staff of the Commission was approved during the meeting.

  • PSC approves deployment of new Commissioners of Police

    PSC approves deployment of new Commissioners of Police

    The Police Service Commission (PSC) has approved the deployment of new Commissioners of Police (CPs) for 11 states and the Federal Capital Territory  (FCT).

    Mr Ikechukwu Ani, the Head of Press and Public Relations of PSC, announced this in a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja.

    He said the CPs are Mohammed Gumel, Kano State; Haruna Garba, FCT; Tajudeen Abass, Delta; Oladimeji Olarewaju, Ogun; Taiwo Jesubiyi, Ondo State; and Julius Okoro, Benue.

    Others are Romokere Ibiani Bayelsa; Mohammed Bunu, Yobe; Garba Yusuf, Kaduna State; Garba Ahmed, Zamfara; Hayatu Ali, Sokoto State; and Aliyu Musa, Katsina State.

    Ani said the Chairman of PSC, Dr Solomon Arase, had called on the newly appointed CPs to be more dedicated to duty.

    Arase said the new posting was a call for greater commitment, innovation and loyalty to the Nigerian nation.

    The PSC chairman urged the CPs to brace up and settle down as quickly as possible for duty ahead of the national transition period.

  • PSC investigates bribe for promotion allegations

    PSC investigates bribe for promotion allegations

    The Police Service Commission (PSC) has set up a committee to investigate a report published by an online medium that police officers pay up to 10,000 dollars bribe to get promotion.

    The Head, Press and Public Relations of PSC, Mr Ikechukwu Ani, said this in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.

    Ani said the report had claimed that some police officers gave $10,000 bribe to get special promotion from the PSC.

    According to him, the report quoted one Chijioke Okonkwo, as making the claim in a petition on behalf of some aggrieved senior police officers.

    The PSC spokesman said even though the said Chijoike Okonkwo, did not indicate his rank, the commission would welcome further details on the allegations.

    Ani said the commission had not formally received the petition or similar complaint on the allegations.

    He however said “anyone with evidence on these allegations should, as a matter of urgency, forward same to the commission”.

    Ani assured that anyone found culpable will be dealt with in line with the laws of the land.

    “The commission has also set up a panel of investigation, comprising both members of the commission and the Nigeria Police Force to investigate these allegations.

    “Aggrieved officers should avail themselves of the existence of this investigative panel and come forward with substantiated proof that could aid the investigation.

    “The commission insists that those found wanting in the course of investigation will face the full wrath of the law,” he said.

    The PSC spokesman however warned that the commission would not tolerate frivolous and fictitious media claims.

    He said officers and men of the police should always follow approved lines of communication.

    Ani added that the commission had directed the police to unravel the identity of the said Chijioke Okonkwo for appropriate interrogation.

    He assured that the new PSC Chairman, Solomon Arase, has been working to harmonise and improve the services of both the commission and the Police.

    “The Commission cannot afford this kind of distraction,” he said, adding that Arase’s desire to bring sanity, peace and unity in the police sub-sector is already receiving desired results.

    He assured Nigerians that the new PSC chairman was determined to sanitize the system and had warned staff of the commission to live above board in the discharge of their responsibilities.

    “Bribery and corruption of any kind will not be tolerated under his watch,” Ani added.

  • Buhari swears in Ex-IGP Arase as PSC chairman, five CCB board members sworn in too

    Buhari swears in Ex-IGP Arase as PSC chairman, five CCB board members sworn in too

    The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), on Wednesday morning, swore in the new chairman of the Service Commission, former Inspector-General of Police, Dr Solomon Arase (retd.).

    Arase took his oath of office at 10:05 am at the council chamber of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, in the presence of Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SGF Boss Mustapha, Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari and other FEC members.

    This comes two months after the senate confirmed him as chairperson of the PSC.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) recalls that on January 24, 2023, Buhari had forwarded Arase’s name to the Senate, asking the upper legislative chamber to confirm him in line with sections 153 (1) and 154 (1) of the constitution as amended.

    Ex-IGP Arase gets new job as PSC chairman, five CCB board members sworn in
    Dr Solomon Arase

    Arase, 65, who retired in 2016, was the 18th indigenous Inspector-General of Police (between April 2015 and June 2016) and has served in various capacities including as head of the Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Bureau, the foremost intelligence-gathering unit of the Nigerian police.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) also reports that the President also swore in five board members of the Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB.

    They include Murtala Kankia from Katsina State (North-West); Zephaniah Bulus from Nasarawa State (North Central) and Farouk Umar from Yobe State (North East), Taofeek Abdulsalam from Ondo State (South West) and Prof. Juwaria Badamasi from Kogi State (North Central).

    Council members also observed a moment of silence in honour of Lt. Gen. Oladipo Diya who died on Sunday, March 26, 2023.

    Ex-IGP Arase gets new job as PSC chairman, five CCB board members sworn in
    Dr Solomon Arase

    Diya served as Chief of General Staff and Vice Chairman of the Provisional Ruling Council under the Abacha regime.

    Born on April 3, 1944 at Odogbolu in Ogun State, Diya joined the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna and fought during the Nigerian Civil War.

    He was appointed Chief of General Staff in 1993 and Vice Chairman of the Provisional Ruling Council in 1994.

    As Chief of the General Staff, he was second in command and the de facto vice president of Nigeria under General Sani Abacha from 1994 to 1997.

    Buhari went on to preside over this week’s Federal Executive Council meeting which began around 10:30 am.

  • PSC backpedals, drops former APC campaigner, Naja’atu from policing elections

    PSC backpedals, drops former APC campaigner, Naja’atu from policing elections

    …hours after APC -PCC demands for her removal

    The Nigerian Police Service Commission has dropped former Director of the Civil Society directorate of the Presidential Campaign Council of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Hajiya Naja’atu Mohammed, as one of the coordinators that will supervise conduct of police officers during Saturday elections.

    Naja’atu was removed hours after the ruling APC protested her inclusion among 45 coordinators who will monitor the conduct of the police officers on election duty

    The PSC had appointed Muhammad, a former Director of the Civil Society Directorate of the APC PCC as one of the coordinators to supervise the conduct of police officers during the February 25 and March 11 general elections.

    However, the APC PCC, in a statement on Monday signed by its spokesman, Festus Keyamo, emphasised that the role given to Naja’atu required an honest and unbiased individual who would discharge the duties diligently and without reproach.

    “We are deeply shocked and appalled to read a release by the Police Service Commission appointing one of its most partisan members, Naja’atu Bala Muhammad as a North-West coordinator of the presidential election. In that role, she is expected to move about freely, supervising the conduct of police officers during the elections,” the APC had said.

    Meanwhile, the commission rescinded its decision, saying it had asked a former Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Bawa Lawal (rtd) who is from the same geopolitical zone with Commissioner Najatu to take over the coordination of the monitoring of Police Conduct in the zone.

    Ikechukwu Ani, spokesman of the commission, told Daily Trust that “The commission will always be sensitive to the wishes of Nigerians and will continue to contribute its quota to the sustenance of the nation’s democracy.”

    Ani explained, “The Commission wishes to state with all sense of responsibility that its commissioners representing different geopolitical zones have always supervised assignments of the commission in the geopolitical zones they represent. It was the same with the present national assignment.

    “It wishes to restate its commitment to a free and fair 2023 elections where the Police as the lead Agency in internal security which includes election policing will discharge its duties according to the dictates of the law.

  • Obasanjo faults appointment of former IGs as chairmen of Police Service Commission

    Obasanjo faults appointment of former IGs as chairmen of Police Service Commission

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Thursday in Abuja frowned at the appointment of former Inspectors-General of Police as chairmen of the Police Service Commission (PSC).

    President Muhammadu Buhari appointed former Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Musiliu Smith as chairman of the PSC in 2018. He resigned in 2022 and retired Justice Clara Ogunbiyi took over as acting chairman.

    In January 2023, President Buhari appointed another retired Inspector-General of Police, Mr Solomon Arase as substantive chairman of the PSC

    Obasanjo expressed his misgivings when he spoke at the public presentation of a book: “Policing the Nigeria Police’’ authored by Chief Simon Okeke, a former chairman of the PSC.

    He said: “when you make a retired police officer the head of the Police Service Commission, it is like asking a thief to catch a thief.’’

    He said civilians should be appointed as chairmen and retired police officers appointed as members of the PSC to ensure effective and efficient service delivery.

    The former president noted that the author believed that Nigeria, a federation should not have unitary police establishment as people had argued that state police would be abused by governors.

    “I won’t say yes or no, but can they not be abused by the Federal Government?

    “For a federation, it is contrary to the ideal of the country because unitary policing system is not close enough to the community where the police are supposed to be.

    “The author argued whether the name should truly be the Nigeria Police Force or a Police Service. I believe the police should be a Police Service not a Police Force,” Obasanjo said.

    He said the author brought up strong argument in support of state police as well as training and retraining of police officers, which he agreed with.

    Obasanjo noted also that the author argued strongly against authorised and unauthorised deployment of police personnel to private guard duties leading to having many police officers in the security service of few individuals.

    Out of 380,000 police personnel at a time, 180,000 were on private duties carrying out duties corruptively, the author wrote.

    In his remarks, Mr Ray Ekpu, Publisher of the book recalled that the PSC was first created by the Independence Constitution of 1960.

    He said it remained sane until the appointment of Inspectors-General of Police was transferred to the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces.

    “Under the military PSC was chaired by the various Chiefs of Staffs until it was abolished by Decree 5 of Feb. 6, 1989 backdated to Aug. 27, 1985.

    “For the period that there was no PSC, the Inspectors-General of Police worked under the supervision of either the Heads of State or Chiefs of staff, Supreme Headquarters.

    “During that period, it was the Inspectors-General of Police that handled the recruitment, appointment and discipline of police officers,” he said.

    Ekpu said the lacuna contributed to the present conflicts between the Inspectors-General of Police and the PSC as the former found it difficult to surrender the powers they formerly enjoyed to an oversight agency, the PSC.

  • Promotion of 19 senior police officers suspended

    Promotion of 19 senior police officers suspended

    The Police Service Commission (PSC) has suspended the promotion of 19 senior police officers.

    The Commission, meanwhile, approved the appointment of three Assistant Inspectors General of Police (AIGs) to the rank of Deputy Inspectors General of Police (DIGs).

    This is contained in a statement released on Sunday in Abuja by Mr Ikechukwu Ani, the Head of Press and Public Relations of PSC.

    Ani disclosed that the senior officers affected by the suspension for failing to appear for interview were eight Commissioners of Police (CPs) and 11 Assistant Commissioners of Police (ACPs).

    He further disclosed that the new DIGs were appointed to fill the vacant positions created by the retirements of three DIGs representing the North Central, North East and North West geopolitical zones.

    He said the appointments were to ensure that the defined succession policy in the Nigeria Police was sustained.

    The PSC spokesman said the newly appointed DIGs were Mr Hafiz Inuwa, the Force Secretary to replace Mr Mustapha Dan- Daura after retirement for the North West.

    He said Mr Aji Janga would replace Mr Zanna Ibrahim for the North East while Mr Adeleke Bode would replace Mr Sanusi Lemu for the North Central.

    Ani said the new appointments were part of the decisions of the reconvened 18th Plenary Meeting of the commission chaired by its Acting Chairman, Justice Clara Ogunbiyi.

    He said the commission, also  suspended the promotion of eight CPs to the rank of AIGs and 11 Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs) to the next rank of CPs.

    He said the suspension followed failure of the officers to appear before the commission for the mandatory promotion interview.

    According to him, the commission had earlier sent invitations to the Officers to appear before it for the usual interaction to ascertain their suitability and capability for the new Offices.

    He said the Commission had expressed surprise over the failure of the officers to honour the invitation.

    Ani said the commission had approved the promotion of 10 ACPs to the next rank of DCPs,  17 Chief Superintendents of Police (CSPs) to ACPs and 301 Superintendents of Police (SPs) to Chief Superintendents (CSP).

    He said the 47 skipped Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSP) from previous recommendations to the commission were also promoted to SPs.

    The PSC spokesman said 665 Assistant Superintendents of Police (ASP) were promoted to DSP.

    He said the recommendations for Nwamanna Nelson, an ACP , Iliyas Casmir, SP and Alheri Mamman, SP were also endorsed

    Ani said the officers were promoted to their next ranks after they were absolved of any Pending Disciplinary Matter (PDM).

    He said Ogunbiyi charged the newly promoted Officers to give their best to the service of the nation especially, ahead of the general elections.