Get Guardian on Google• Tasks NASS To Grant Financial Autonomy To Commission
The United Global Resolve For Peace (UGRFP) has advocated the appointment of a retired justice, or rights activist as chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), rather than appointing retired Inspector General of Police (IGP) as has been the practice.
It said the unhealthy rivalry between the two bodies, occasioned by attempts by the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to usurp the functions of the commission, is a significant glitch in the system that could ruin the little policing gains achieved over the years, thereby condemning Nigerians to more years of oppression in the hands of corrupt police officers.
According to the group, the recent recruitment and appointment of new police officers, which was overseen by the IGP was an aberration, as it undermined the commission’s authority.
[ad]
It therefore called on the National Assembly to urgently grant financial autonomy to the commission to help improve its accessibility to Nigerians, especially in the remotest regions, adding that funding must be prioritised to help the commission to meet its mandate.
In a statement, yesterday, in Abuja, its executive director, Shalom Olaseni, argued that the PSC was established with the powers to appoint, promote, discipline, and dismiss police officers found wanting, except the IGP, as well as groom the relationship between the public and the police to be one of trust and confidence, rather than suspicion and indifference.
“In the alternative, a tenured executive director may be appointed to chair the commission from amongst professionals such as retired justices of any superior court in Nigeria, Senior Advocates of Nigeria, or seasoned professionals in the human rights sector.”
[ad]
