PSC, IGP face-off and the morale of officers

ExpressDay

October 5, 2020
3 min read
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There is no doubt, the ongoing face-off between the Police Service Commission (PSC) and Nigeria Police Force, has its negative consequences on the officers and men of the Force.
As it is said, when two elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers and in this case, the officers and men of the Force are at the receiving end of the crisis.
It would be recalled that as a result of the battle for control of the recruitment process and who should be responsible for creation of new zones and departments in the force, the PSC on Friday stepped down the promotion of 112 newly-promoted officers.
The affected officers had earlier filled their APA forms, submitted and were said to be certified.
In fact, they have all the requirements to be moved to the next rank.
Announcing the stepping down of the promotion of the 112 of the affected officers, the PSC in a statement, said the decision was part of the highpoints of the 9th Plenary Meeting of the Commission which held in Abuja on Monday and Tuesday, September 28 and 29, 2020, and presided over by Commission Chairman, retired Inspector General of Police, Musiliu Smith.

“The Commission stood down the promotions of 112 senior Police Officers for failure of the Inspector General of Police to comply with the directive of the Commission to attach the Presidential approval for the creation of additional Police Zonal Commands and Departments from where the vacancies for the recommended Officers were harvested.
“The Commission stood down the promotion of 13 Commissioners of Police to the next rank of Assistant Inspectors General, eight Deputy Commissioners of Police to Commissioners to Commissioners and 91 Chief Superintendents of Police to Assistant Commissioners,” the statement said.
Apart from the stepping of down of the names of promoted offices, the PCS also secured a judgement from Court of Appeal which nullified the recruitment of 10,000 constables by the Nigeria Police Force in 2019.
Recall that the Court of Appeal, last week, led by Justice Olabisi Ige, had unanimously held that the IGP and the Police lack the power to recruit the constables, saying it is the job of the Police Service Commission to carry out the recruitment since it’s the commission that had exclusive power to do so.The IGP, Mohammed Adamu, had approached the Supreme Court urging it to overturn judgment of the Court of Appeal.
There is no gain saying that this battle between the agencies that are supposed to be working closely for the good of the men and officers of the Force will impact negatively officers of the Force.

As it is now, the constables that passed through the huddles of recruitment last year and were successful are already demoralised and discouraged even before entering the Force.
The war between the two organisations, indeed, does not speak well of the country.
It is therefore, necessary for the two sister organisations, to, for the interest of the men and officers of the Force, find a middle ground where this ‘ego’ war will be resolved amicably.
For officers who have put in their best for years and are qualified to be promoted and are being denied, it is, indeed, worrisome. Their morale will be low and their productivity will be affected.
There is the need, therefore, for the presidency and indeed, well-meaning Nigerians to intervene to ensure that the differences are resolved for the good both the officers of the Force and the nation at large.