PSC Suspends Police Special Promotion Exercise

Paul Obi in Abuja
Following the controversy that engulfed police promotions in recent times, the Police Service Commission (PSC) Tuesday suspended all forms of special promotions in the Nigerian Police pending investigation on the matter.

PSC Chairman, Mr. Mike Okiro stated this yesterday in Abuja at a parley with journalists.
According to him, this is to ensure that the procedures for such promotions are strictly adhered to and the extant laws followed as well.

Okiro said: “The commission ensures that promotions are given to only deserving officers based on merit and through a procedure that is open, transparent and accountable.

“In order to encourage hard work and healthy competition, pursuant to that, the commission has developed and issued guidelines on its core mandate.”

He listed: “Confirmation of appointment, seniority, maturity, level of performance, clean records of service, promotion course and passing of the prescribed examination or interview as appropriate and availability of vacancy” as the channels upon which promotion could be effected.

Okiro stated: “However, given the recent avalanche of disparaging reports, comments and allegations revolving around special promotions.

“Albeit most of which which are baseless, unfounded and malicious, the commission has taken a decision to put on hold, all recommendations for special promotions until further notice.

“Meanwhile, the already processed promotions shall be reappraised and released at the appropriate time, or shall be referred back to the Inspector General of Police to furnish the commission with details of each recommended individual officer’s superlative performance to qualify for special promotions.

Notwithstanding, Okiro explained that “the commission must receive such advocacies or recommendations and take the most appropriate action on each according to its merit.
He promised that “the commission does not, unilaterally award special promotion.

The major source of advocacy or recommendations for special promotion is the Inspector General of Police, being the Chief Operation Officer of the Nigerian Police Force.”
The PSC chairman warned that henceforth, no police officer doing a normal duty would be promoted again under the special promotions programme.