The Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Solomon Arase, has stated that the commission would partner with Nigeria Police to reposition the Force.
The Commission’s Head, ,Press and Public Relations, Ikechuckwu Ani, while disclosing this noted that the PSC boss said the judgement “legally cements the resolution of the issue in a win-win situation for the two institutions which ordinarily cannot effectively function, and deliver on its respective mandates without the cooperation of each other.”
He described the judgement by the Supreme Court which pronounced the PSC from recruiting constables for the Nigeria Police Force as a judgement in the best interest of the nation.
The apex court gave the directive on July 11, 2023.
Arase further declared that a recruitment board has been constituted, chaired by the Police Service Commission, with other relevant stakeholders as members, and will be inaugurated soon.
Arase said the board will be responsible for the screening and ensure that only able and qualified members of the public are recruited into the Nigerian police force while reflecting the principle of Federal Character.
The statement read, “Prior to the judgment, efforts were already in process and at advanced stage towards amicable resolution of the issue between the two critical institutions, as it was highly embarrassing to government, and indeed other stakeholders for the duo which ought to work in harmony and mutuality to have engaged in such avoidable legal disputation over an issue that sought understanding, respect and compromise.”
Speaking on the significance of peace and harmony, Arase said, “cannot be over-emphasised, as contemporary security provisioning has become more tasking than ever, and demands a robust policy guideline from the Commission, if the Nigeria Police Force must be repositioned for greater efficiency and effectiveness in not only meeting up with the myriad of security challenges confronting our dear country, Nigeria, but also birthing a responsive, responsible and accountable police to our people.”
The statement also mentioned that “peace is essential for growth and success of any institution in delivering on its mandate.”
Furthermore , the communique noted that, the PSC and NPF “will continue to build and consolidate on the emerging trust, confidence and mutual respect which will aggregate to foster and entrench a culture of love and symbiotic relationship between the two agencies, towards the attainment of our statutory mandates, for a greater, safer, prosperous and more secure Nigeria.”
