Junior officers of the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) comprising of those of the rank of Inspectors and below have decried high level of injustice in the promotion exercise carried out by the force headquarters recently.

The concerned officers alleged that rather than following due processes, the promotion was lopsided and was based on “cash and carry”

In a statement signed by leader of the affected police officer, Abdulmajeed Lukeman, the officer alleged they were denied the right to be promoted while those promoted were not qualified.

“We are writing on behalf of Inspectors, Rank and File of the Nigeria Police Force, to draw the attention of Police Council and the Police Service Commission on our ordeal and injustice that is ongoing within the Nigeria Police system.

“In the year 2015, the Nigeria Police leaders at that time in their wisdom saw a need to upgrade inspectors, Rank and File with Higher Educational Qualifications. Based on that, they called for Aptitude Test (Examination) and screening of officers with University Degrees and HND certificates to be upgraded to the Rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), reference to POLICE WIRELESS MASSAGE (Signal) CB:7510/DTD/FHQ/ABJ/VOL.7/11, DTO151800/06/2015 PROMOTION GENERAL Dated 06/2015.

“The examination and the screening were done by the Police authority in conjunction with Police Service Commission in various State and Zonal Commands respectively.

"After the examination and screening, fifty (50) successful candidates were shortlisted from each state of the federation including FCT Abuja according to their States of Origins and Local Government Areas, including supplementary which make up to 2,226 candidates.

“Eventually, in December 2015, the Police authority called for the final screening at the FHQ Abuja by signal No. CB: 7510/DTD FHQ/ABJ/VOL.7/66 Dated 5th December 2015. This final screening was not even supposed to come up again because we have already been screened by representatives of Police Services Commission and FHQ in both Zonal and State Commands. However, to our utmost surprise, at the peak of the screening exercise at FHQ we were told by the Police authority that, we should go back to our various Commands/Formation for further directives.

“Furthermore, January 22, 2016 on Friday, the Leadership Newspaper published that, the Senate Committee on Police Affairs said it is in custody of names of successful candidates to be upgraded to the Rank of Assistance Superintendent of Police (ASP) base on Educational Qualification from the former Inspector General of Police Mr Solomon Arase, and the committee promised, it will make sure that there will be no lopsidedness in the promotion.

“While we were still waiting hoping to be called, the Police authority differs the laid down procedure of appointment into the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) as seen in section 39 part IV of Police act and regulation. They decided to call for recruitment of civilian graduates as cadet ASP, without any recourse to us! The serving members who were earlier screened, waiting to be promoted. The above provision of the police act and regulation Provides that vacancies in Assistant Superintendent of Police ASP cadre can only be filled up with candidates from outside the Police, by the reason of UNAVAILABILITY OF SUITABLE CANDIDATES, from within the force.
“About three months ago we wrote a letter of complaint to the Chairman Senate Committee on Police Affairs Senator Abu Ibrahim representing Funtua Senatorial Zone Katsina State, with some attached documents and publications done in respect of this issue, such as Open Letter to Mr. President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria published by Daily Sun Newspaper dated Wednesday 18 October, 2017 page 5and The Punch Newspaper page 8 of the same date with The Sun Newspaper, but no any responds.

“On 07/08/2016 the current Inspector General of Police IGP Ibrahim Idris was interviewed in Niger State Minna Government House by some members of the press about the issue of the Inspectors Rank and Files Promotion exercise, he promised to meet with the Police Service Commission to discuss over it, but nothing has been done. Also on the 06/04/2018 the Inspector General of Police visited Taraba State Police Command, a Police officer asked him a question related to this issue the IGP promised to look into it, but up till date, no action has been taken. However, Special Promotion is going on each and every week at the Force Headquarters for both Senior and Junior Officers, some special promotion with backdating date of 2016 / 2017, today, about 95% of police officers that are enjoying this special promotion does not deserve it, as most of the Special Promotions are not based on merit, seniority or breakthrough while on duty, it favors the highest bidder and nepotism.

“We kindly request the new Chairman of the Police Service Commission and its board members as a matter of urgency to get the names of all those who have benefited for the special promotion, and find out what have they done to deserve the special promotion. When this is done the truth will be revealed, while we the Graduate Police Inspectors, Rank and Files with our High Qualifications relevant to police jobs such as Criminology and Security Studies, Sociology, L.L.B, Psychology, Accountancy, Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution and among others, with fifteen (15) years and above in service are being abandoned and our Service Register/Confidential Files still at the (E) Department at the Force Headquarters Abuja, for more than three (3) years and no action has so far been taken on it.

“We welcome the former IGP, Alhaji Misiliu Smith and the new Board members of the Police Service Commission (PSC) as you formally assumed duties with a promise to reposition the Nigeria Police Force for optimum efficiency and effectiveness. We pray God gives you divine wisdom to pilot the Nigeria Police Force in a good direction as we also draw your attention to rectify the injustice that has been melted on us.

“We equally plead with the following: the Police Council, the Police Service Commission (PSC), the Inspector General of Police (IGP), the Chairmen Police Committee in both the Senate and House of Representatives, the Traditional Rulers in Nigeria, National Human Right Commission (NHRC) and all well-meaning individuals to take a second look at this issue and address it appropriately. As a discipline organization, steps must be taken to preserve such discipline to which we are in the forefront. While doing our work of maintaining Law and order, protection of lives and property among others the bases for which is to ensure that justice prevailed, it will be absurd that we are pegged on injustice as we try hard to ensure justice for others.

“Finally, the current Inspector’s Rank and Files have done nothing to deserve this life of servitude. If this trend is allowed to continue, there will be greater dejection and indiscipline in the organization”

• Sourced from The Nation report

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