The Police Service Commission (PSC) has denied any squabble between the commission and the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris.
IGP IDRIS IBRAHIM
The Commission’s spokesman, Ikechukwu Ani disclosed that the attention of the Commission was drawn to a ‘misleading’ story in a national daily with the caption, “Tension in Police as IGP Rejects DIG Promotions”.
Ani quoted the newspaper as saying that “indication has emerged that tension is building up in the Police Force as the Inspector- General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris has rejected the promotion of an Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), to the next rank of Deputy Inspector -General (DIG) by the Police Service Commission (PSC) without his recommendation”.
According to him, “The report claimed “the IGP showed disapproval when he learnt of the promotion of Mr Musa Katsina Muhammed from AIG to DIG rank by the Commission, instead of AIG Abdulsalam Iyagi, he recommended”
“The Commission wishes to put the record straight in the interest of Nigerians who may have been misled by the publication and majority of Policemen who have shown considerable appreciation on the new policy direction of the newly inaugurated Management team of the Commission.
“The Commission wishes to state that there is no tension in the Nigeria Police Force rather there is a new wave of hope as the Commission moves to sanitize the Force and return it to the path of rectitude.
“The new Management has since assumption of office insisted on working strictly with laid down rules and regulations guiding its constitutional mandate of Appointment, Promotion and Discipline in the Nigeria Police Force.
This procedure was observed in the promotion of three Assistant Inspectors General of Police to Deputy Inspectors General.
“Before the recent promotions, the Nigeria Police Force had four DIGs representing four geo-political zones.
They are Maigari Dikko, from Katsina, representing the North West; Joshak Habila, from Plateau State, representing the North Central; Emmanuel T. Inyang, from Akwa Ibom State, representing South-South; and Agboola Oshodi-Glover, from Lagos, representing South West.
“The Commission considered the recommendations of the IGP of three AIGs for promotion to DIG’s. They were Mohammed Sani Usman from Bauchi, representing North East; Peace Ibekwe-Abdallah, from Anambra, representing the South East and Abdul Salami Iyaji from Kogi, representing the North Central”.
He added: “At the time of the recommendation, Musa Katsina Mohammed was the most senior AIG in the Nigeria Police Force but was curiously not recommended.
“The Commission in its wisdom and satisfying the necessary and relevant requirements approved the recommendations of Sani Usman to take the place of the North East and Ibekwe-Abdallah for the South East. It rejected the recommendation of Iyaji and in his place promoted the most senior AIG, Katsina Mohammed from the North West.
“It is instructive to note that all the geo-political zones are currently fully represented in the DIG cadre in the Nigeria Police Force and the remaining vacant slot was ceded to the most senior AIG.
It is further instructive to note that the IGP is also from Niger State and invariably also representing the North Central. No Geopolitical Zone is therefore left out in the promotion
“The Commission wishes to state that it is under no obligation to wholly approve all recommendations from the IGP for appointments, promotions or discipline. Such powers wholly reside according to the Law with the Police Service Commission.
“The current Commission is determined to commit itself to the letters of the Constitution and the Act in the discharge of its responsibilities since it is by so doing that justice and equity will always be done to the entirety of officers and men of the Nigeria Police.
“It would ensure as earlier stated that all promotions in the Nigeria Police Force from the assumption of office of this management are based strictly on merit, seniority, availability of vacancies, even spread and attendance/successful completion of relevant courses”.
