Police, PSC set up c’ttees to resolve operational differences

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and the Police Service Commission (PSC) have agreed to set up joint committees to resolve operational differences of the two security agencies.

This was made known in a statement issued by the PSC spokesman, Ikechukwu Ani, on Friday, August 4, 2023.

Ani said the agreement was reached when the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, visited the PSC Chairman, Dr Solomon Arase, in Abuja on Thursday, August 3.

The two agencies, Ani said, agreed to set up a  recruitment board that would include all the strategic stakeholders in future police recruitment exercises.

He said the leaders of the two agencies pledged that the welfare of police officers would be paramount henceforth.

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The PSC spokesman noted that the two leaders have also decided to jointly work together to ensure that issues of discipline are handled expeditiously.

Ani said the decision was to ensure that those found wanting were adequately punished while those found innocent were freed to continue their career progression.

“They also agreed to ensure that police promotions are prompt and based on merit, seniority and availability of vacancy,” he added.

Ani said the PSC boss has pledged to continue to collaborate with the acting IGP to ensure efficiency and effectiveness of the Nigeria Police.

A fresh cold war ensued between the NPF and the PSC in 2022 over the recruitment of police Constables.

Following an announcement by the PSC  calling for applications by suitable persons into the Force to serve as Constables, the NPF issued a statement by its spokesman, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, saying: “The Nigeria Police Force wishes to inform well-meaning members of the public that it has not commenced the 2022 Police Constables recruitment into the Nigeria Police Force contrary to a publication on Page 21 of Daily Sun newspaper of Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022 by the PSC.”

Adejobi added that the advert had no connection with the NPF nor was it in tandem with the police recruitment process.

The Star