FG, States, LGAs Earmark N420bn To Revamp Police

Agreement have been reached by the federal, states and local governments in Nigeria to contribute jointly the sum of N420 billion for the next five years to reposition the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

The Chairman, Police Service Commission (PSC), Deputy Inspector – General of Police, DIG, (Retired) Mr. Parry Osayande, who made this public while addressing newsmen in Enugu at the weekend, explained that the money would be used in building modern police barracks, expand and  modernize the existing ones, buying new equipments, train and re-train members of the NPF, expand and modernize the existing Police Colleges , as well as build one police college in each of the six geo-political zones of the country.   

Mr. Osayande, who was in Enugu with other members of the commission in continuation of their nationwide visit of Police formations, further stated that the commission, also responsible for promotion and  disciplinary matters in the NPF from the rank of constable to Deputy Inspector –General of  Police (DIG), is committed to improving the NPF, in order to restore its lost glory. 

 While stating that the chairman of the proposed funds  would be the Acting President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan. Mr  Osayande  also gave the hint that the eight-member commission was also mandated to revamp the force. 

According to him, promotions in the  NPF would no longer be based on Federal Character arrangement as it was in the past, saying that all promotions would henceforth be based purely on merit.  He said this will serve as encouragement to policemen to work harder, expressing optimism that the transformation of the NPF would yield fruitful dividend at the end of the exercise.

 “The Police Service Commission will no longer allow Federal Character to affect promotion exercises in the police. You don’t need to pay money to get promoted. “At the same time, you don’t need to pay money to be posted from point  A to point B”, he said. 

He, therefore, used the forum to warn  members of the force on corruption , especially as it concerns extortion of money from motorists and  innocent citizens,  as well as human rights abuses, advising them to desist from such misconduct or be ready to face the music if apprehended. 

 The Edo state-born retired police officer, expressed regret that prior to the appointment of the present police service commission, men and officers of the police force, who were due for promotion were stagnated in their old ranks for years, assuring that the present commission under his leadership was poised to address the trend.

 According to him, the commission is committed towards ensuring that the NPF is completely repositioned with a view to engaging its personnel in more    proactive policing,  adding the that welfare of the men and officers would continue to remain one of its top priority at all times.

Arrangements, he went on,  are equally on for the establishment of some forensic laboratories in various parts of the nation, stressing that training and re- training  of officers and men of the security outfit would also be given serious attention. He stated that the commission wants to put in place a police that is always battle ready to face the 21st century security challenges.

 Admitting the alarming rate of corruption in the NPF, the PSC chairman  also blamed some of the problems on under funding of the establishment by successive administrations in the country. 

He, thus called on all and sundry to join hands with the commission and government in repositioning the force , saying that security remains the business of every “Dick and Harry”.