I Will Restore Peace and Build Trust Between PSC and NPF, PSC Boss Tells CSOs
The Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), Dr. Solomon Arase, CFR, has reiterated that his mandate, among others, is to ensure the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and the Commission find common ground on issues, particularly roles and power, that have caused feuds in the past.
At a meeting with Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) at the Corporate Headquarters of the Commission in Jabi, Abuja, on Friday, the Chairman stated that the embarrassing scenario overtime was informed and fuelled by preconceptions, misconceptions, and prejudices against both institutions, founded on mutual distrust and suspicion.
He said: “In the raging disconcertment and belligerency, it is the Nigerian people that suffer as neither PSC nor NPF can function effectively in delivering on its mandate without the support and cooperation of the other, especially, when both institutions that are supposed to be mutually-reinforcing are now at daggers drawn.
“I set out with a vision and mission to de-escalate and contain the raging conflict, douse the disquiet and restore peace, understanding and cooperation between the two institutions necessary for my actualization of Security Sector Reforms (SSR) in Nigeria.”
According to him, peace is essential for the success and growth of any institution towards the attainment of its mandate, however, he noted that the pursuit of peace does not compel the Commission to compromise and undermine its integrity as an oversight Agency over the Nigeria Police.
The Chairman believes that his consideration and appointment as the Chairman of the Commission by the President was not accidental but borne out of his conscious effort to bring about the required peace, cordiality and harmony between the institutions.
Dr. Arase further assured the CSOs that being a former Police Officer would not impede on his sense of justice, fairness and equity, adding that he will surely leave his footprints in the sands of time and grow a Police Force that is mentally mobile.
The Chairman, as quoted by the Commission’s Spokesperson, Ikechukwu Ani, pledged “to bequeath to Nigeria and Nigerians a Police Force of our dreams and aspirations; able and willing to provide services to the Nigerian people in the most transparent, responsible and responsive manner.”
He also appealed to the CSOs to support the Commission in addressing various problems facing Police and policing in Nigeria.
“The Police Force is ours; it is not impossible to build a Police Force of our aspirations; It only requires involvement, participation, collaboration, assistance, and support. Please, get involved,” he noted.
Kemi Okenyodo of PWAN, one of the Civil Society Organizations, in her remarks, urged the Chairman to build a strong professional external oversight body that is equipped with the required capacity to hold the Police accountable for its actions.
