PSC scraps special promotions in police

The Police Service Commission (PSC), has announced the abolition of special promotions in the Nigeria Police Force.

In a statement issued yesterday (Tuesday, September 3) by Mr. Ikechukwu Ani, Head of Press and Public Relations, the PSC Chairman, DIG Hashimu Argungu (rtd) was quoted as saying, in remarks when he received a delegation of members of the executive of the Association of Retired Police Officers of Nigeria in his office yesterday in Abuja, that the PSC would no longer be a rubber stamp “for this irregular means of promotion in the service.”

PSC Chairman, DIG Hashimu Argungu(rtd)

Argungu further assured that merit based on success in prescribed examination and other basic requirements would now count in the promotion of Officers and Men of the Nigeria Police Force.

The chairman, while stressing that there is nothing like special promotion anywhere around the world, said that the Commission under his leadership would not encourage it, stating that although the law allows for accelerated promotion of officers who have shown uncommon dexterity in the discharge of their duties, even that will be done with care so as not to abuse it.

“Promotion will now be on merit and there will be written examination and interview,” Argungu stressed. “Seniority is now irrelevant in modern day policing since any officer who fails promotion examination will remain on the same rank and if he fails three times, he will be retired at that level for incompetence.”

DIG Argungu emphasized that the Commission would no longer promote Officers who cannot pass prescribed written examinations, calling for the support of retired Police Officers whose experiences as former officers would be valuable in this new direction.

He said he is proud of the Nigeria Police Force, which he served and retired from as a Deputy Inspector General, and will not at any point disappoint the Force.

“A policeman is like Ceasers’ wife and should be above suspicion; it is country first. If I die and have to come back, I will still want to be a policeman. Police are the jack of all trades and master of all. I will not fail that institution and I will also not fail the PSC. I will do my best not to put the two institutions to shame,” DIG Argungu declared.

Chairman of the Association, AIG Paul Ochonu (rtd) had earlier told the PSC Chairman that they came to extend their hand of fellowship to the Commission “and pledge our unalloyed loyalty to its leadership”.

He said the Association is proud of the fact that both the National Security Adviser and Chairman of the PSC are all policemen, hoping that both of them would have forged a united working platform with the Inspector General of Police .

“The trio, working as a team, is capable of getting the best for the Nigeria Police Force,” Ochonu said.

He enjoined the PSC Chairman to forge “a very positive, progressive and forward looking partnership with the Nigeria Police High Command,” saying such a relationship “will not only benefit the two federal agencies but will also greatly enhance the gains the general public yearn for and will enjoy.”

Ochonu appealed to the PSC Chairman to promote purposeful working synergy amongst the three heads of the Police, the Commission and the Office of the National Security Adviser.

“The Police Force and its personnel stand to benefit immensely when the three of you jointly make a case for it on any subject matter to the Federal Government,” Ochonu surmised.