By Hassan Zaggi
The ruling of the Supreme Court on the case between the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the Police Service Commission (PSC) on whose duty it is to recruit Constables into the Nigeria Police Force is a win-win for both parties for national security.
The Chairman, PSC, IGP Solomon Arase (rtd), stated this in a statement signed by the PSC Spokesman, Ikechukwu Ani, in Abuja, Sunday.
It would be recalled that the PSC and the Nigeria Police Force have been on each other’s throat over who has the constitutional right to recruit Constables into the Force.
The issue dragged from the lower courts to the Supreme Court which was decided on July 11, 2023.
In the judgment, the Supreme Court ruled that the PSC is the agency statutorily mandated to recruit constables into the Nigeria Police Force.
The PSC Chairman, however, said that: “The judgment simply and legally cements the resolution of the issue in a win-win situation for the two institutions which ordinarily cannot effectively function, and deliver on its respective mandates without the cooperation of each other.
“It must be said and seen, therefore, that the judgment is delivered for the overall best interest of our national security, and goes to underscore the imperative need for harmonious working relationship and mutual trust amongst agencies of Government.
“Consequently, it is important that all concerned to de-escalate and eschew all forms of hostilities, misconceptions, preconceptions and prejudices against each other which were at the base of the hitherto characterizing of a no love lost relationship between the Commission and the NPF.”
Arase however, regretted that the unnecessary imbrogilo which dragged for a long time impacted negatively on the Staff of the PSC and officers and other ranks of the Nigeria Police Force.
Prior to the judgment, the statement noted, efforts were already in process and at advanced stage towards amicable resolution of the issue between the two critical institutions, as it was highly embarrassing to government, and indeed, other stakeholders for the duo which ought to work in harmony and mutuality to have engaged in such avoidable legal disputation over an issue that sought understanding, respect and compromise.
Arase, therefore, announced that a Recruitment Board has been constituted, chaired by the PSC with other relevant stakeholders as members, and will be inaugurated soon.
The Board, he explained, will be saddled with the responsibility to screen and ensure that only able and qualified members of the public are recruited into the NPF, reflecting also the principle of Federal Character.
The PSC boss reiterated that the imperativeness of peace, harmony and cordiality between the two institutions cannot be over-emphasized, noting that “contemporary security provisioning has become more tasking than ever, and demands a robust policy guideline from the Commission if the Nigeria Police Force must be repositioned for greater efficiency and effectiveness in not only meeting up with the myriad of security challenges confronting our dear country, Nigeria, but also birthing a responsive, responsible and accountable police to our people.”
Peace, he stressed, is essential for growth and success of any institution in delivering on its mandate, and it is hoped that the Commission and NPF will continue to build and consolidate on the emerging trust, confidence and mutual respect which will aggregate to foster and entrench a culture of love and symbiotic relationship between the two agencies towards the attainment of statutory mandates, for a greater, safer, prosperous and more secure Nigeria.
