Personnel of the Police Service Commission (PSC) have called for the resignation of the chairman, IGP Musiliu Smith (Rtd) over alleged ineptitude.

The staff specifically stated that the #ENDSARS protests several months ago where hoodlums embarked on wanton destruction of police, public and private properties was as a result of the ineptitude of the handlers of the commission.

Addressing newsmen at the Conference room of the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF), Federal Secretariat Conference, the Chairman of the Joint Union Congress of Police Service Commission, Comrade Adoyi Augustine Adoyi said staff of the Commission would launch a massive protest if their demands were not met by the government.

The body embarked on indefinite strike last week over a working condition dispute among other issues.

The PSC is a civilian oversight body of the Nigerian Police Force (NPF).

According to the Adoyi, “A nation that has a body such as the Police Service Commission should have a better Police Force and a better Police/Civilian relationship than we have now. In fact, may I state here that as staff, we accept that the ENDSARS protest several months ago that almost devastated the country is as a result of the ineptitude of the handlers of the Commission to perform optimally.

“We as staff of the Commission recognise our huge responsibility to shaping the Police Force into an organisation that Nigerians would be proud of. We have decided not to fail this great nation. Never again! That is why we are in this struggle.

“Today, as things stand, we observe with utmost dissatisfaction that our demands have not been addressed with any seriousness or sincerity and we have equally taken note that our agitations have not been given credence in its entirety.

“Sadly, the agitations of the Staff have been summarised into a one – topic issue (police recruitment) thereby whipping up sentiments. It is this same narrative that has been sold to the Press and is trending.

“The Chairman swore an oath to protect the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Commission. If he has found himself unable to carry out the functions he swore to, we would then advise that he resigns honourably.

“Despite the existence of good policies for the processes leading to the promotion of men and officers of the Nigeria Police Force, the Commission continues to abdicate its responsibilities resulting in complaints of sharp practices and lope-sided opportunities in the Nigeria Police Force which is supposed to be serviced by the Commission as a constitutional responsibility.

“The Commission must rise up to its responsibilities of ensuring merit–based promotion in the Nigeria Police Force to promote equity and fair play and prevent all the psychologically induced shenanigans of men and officers of the Nigeria Police Force which are adversely affecting the police force and the civil populace.

“It would interest you to note that of all government employees in Nigeria (including the armed forces and other paramilitary organisations), it is only the personnel of the Nigeria Police Force that do not sit for promotion examinations before they are promoted.

“This is a violation of the Public Service Rules and other extant rules that encourage merit-driven promotion and it must stop henceforth,” they said. (The Guardian)

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