By Hassan Zaggi
In an effort to change the attitude of police officers for effective service delivery, the Federal Government has flagged-off capacity building for police officers in the country.
The capacity building is aimed at increasing self-awareness, self-management, social awareness and relationship management of the police officers.
Speaking while flagging-off the training in Yola, the Minister of Police Affairs, Dr. Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, said that the training was necessitated by the demanding nature of the duties of the police officers.
The work load of the officers, according to him, expose them to stress and anxiety which could be transferred to innocent members of the public resulting in infractions.
Dingyadi stated that the workshop has been scheduled to hold in other geopolitical zones in the coming days/weeks, which is part of the Ministry of Police Affairs’s efforts at reforming and re-orienting members of the Nigeria Police, with special emphasis on junior officers, who, he added, constitute vast majority and also interface more with the populace, upon which opinions are formed on the Nigeria Police in general.
The Minister said that near absence of self-management in some policemen has resulted in bringing the reputation of the entire force to odium and near disrepute.
“The good news is that, the Ministry of Police Affairs is working closely with police management to institutionalize service orientation among officers and men of the Nigeria Police to deepen citizen’s trust, confidence and increased participation for robust human intelligence,” the Minister stressed.
He expressed optimism that: “It is hoped that, the workshop will assist in self critique; in order to strengthen weaknesses in emotional intelligence to improve police-citizens relationship for enhanced internal security management in Nigeria.”
He, however, re-assured of government’s commitments to improving the welfare and working conditions of policemen across Nigeria, through enhanced emoluments, upgrading of barracks, working environment and provision of modern security enablers to tackle criminalities.
Speaking, the Commissioner of Police (CP), Adamawa Police Command, Sikiru Kayode Akande, applauded the Ministry of Police Affairs for organizing the workshop to educate the participants in view of the forth coming 2023 general elections.
According to him, rank and file would be sensitized in key areas such as improvement in their attitude to work for effective service delivery; enhanced robust relationship between the community and the police; and observance/respect of human rights of citizens.
Earlier, in her address of welcome, the Director, (RERFORMS and SERVICOM), Mrs. Maryam Dalhatu Abdulmalik, said that the workshop was on attitudinal change for effective service delivery which is part of various police reforms activities.
The capacity building, she noted, is aimed at filling the gap that exist between the police officers and the citizens in the areas of unfriendliness and mistrust.
