By Harry Awurumibe, Editor Abuja Bureau
The new Chairman of Police Service Commission (PSC), Dr. Solomon Ehigiator Arase has outlined his vision for the Commission under his watch with a firm promise to sharpen the skills of the rank and file of Nigeria Police Force just as he said there won’t be friction between him and the Inspector General (IGP).
Speaking to State House Correspondents on Wednesday shortly after he was sworn-in as PSC Chairman by President Muhammadu Buhari prior to the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Arase also promised to make Police welfare a top priority.
Arase, a former IGP who took over from Mr. Musiliu Smith, also an ex-IGP who resigned from the top position last year has assured that he will ensure that the Commission, a body responsible for appointment and promotion of Police officers other than the Inspector General of Police (IGP), and for dismissal and exercise of disciplinary control over persons in the force, lived up to its billings.
The new PSC boss who is harping on discipline and professionalisn stated that:”We’ll ensure that we continue to place our local and international expertise at their disposal”.
According to him: “We will be strong in training in various areas especially alternative dispute resolution.
“The issue of discipline will be taken seriously. I will not want a situation where civil situations arise. So any officer who steps out of the line, there will be consequences. But at the same time, they are my colleagues and children. So I’m going to make sure that I sharpen their skills.
“I’ll ensure that they start having confidence in themselves. With more training, the trust gap between members of the public and the police will be bridged. That is what I want to do. That members of the public will collaborate with the police force; see them as part of the larger society”.
Speaking further, the respected retired cops stated that: “Every policeman was a civilian and will return to civilian life after retirement as I have since I retired some seven years ago”.
“The benefits that are derivable from good conduct as a police officer, they will continue to reap it when they retire. So that is what I will emphasise”.
On what specific steps will he take to improve the relationship between the Commission and the Police, Arase said: “If you look at the calibre of people you have in the commission, then you also look at the professional skills of the police management team, there is no way that there won’t be occasional issues.
“What I think we should do is that each of the parties should not learn to take everything. There must be negotiation, empathy and respect for each of our roles.
“I will expect that the commission allows the IGP to exercise his operational control over the police. And that the IG himself will respect the constitutional powers of the Police Service Commission. So, there must be mutual respect between both parties. I don’t foresee any crisis at all.
Asked how he will address corruption in the Police, the former Police boss said: “Well, as an Inspector-General of police, the way I looked at the issue of corruption was to identify it from the source.
“When you tackle issues that are likely to increase the tendencies to be corrupt, you deal with it. How are you taking care of their welfare?
“How are you ensuring that when they retire, they have a decent house to go to? How are you taking care of their children? Can we organise scholarship schemes for them?
“Can we ensure that when we deploy them, they have the necessary work equipment? When you respect people who work for you…even your dog’s, when they see you, they will wag their tails. So we must take the interest of the Nigerian police officers into consideration. And we’ll douse the issue of corruption. Also, members of the public should not corrupt them”.
