Forty newly promoted Commissioners of Police in the country were, Tuesday, decorated with a charge on them to discharge their duties with intellect and be civil to civilians as well as remain guided by respect to extant laws.
Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, who decorated them, stated that out of 10, 114 police officers have been promoted since his assumption as IGP in January 2019, comprising 7,127 Inspectors to ASPs, 1,375 ASPs to DSPs, 498 DSPs to SPs, 566 SPs to CSPs, 150 CSPs to ACPs, 273 ACPs to DCPs, 75 DCPs to CPs, 35 CPs to AIGs and 14 AIGs to DIGs.
Adamu while addressing the officers, said: “Your promotion, like other previous exercises, was guided by the principles of seniority and merit. It is also reflective of your record of discipline and invaluable experience.”
Reiterating that the capacity of the human assets of any organisation, particularly at strategic management level was fundamental to the attainment of the goals and mandates of such institution, he said, ” This assertion is even more critical for a law enforcement agency that is strategic to internal security of the nation as the Nigerian Police force.
“This is because the rapidly changing dynamics of crime and the attendant increasing threat to security requires quality police managers who have the requisite professional knowledge, experience and competency to effectively provide leadership directed at managing such internal security realities.
“The import of this is that any organisation that does not, or delays in recognising the potentials of its personnel and rewarding them by promoting those eligible as at when due, stands the risk of retaining crops of highly demotivated officers, who would not be optimally dedicated to the standards and goals of the institution.
“I hold the firm conviction that all of you, the newly promoted Commissioners of Police fit perfectly into my human capacity development requirement and I am confident that you will deploy your wealth of experience toward supporting the Nigerian Police in attainment of our mandate, especially at this crucial time in our nation’s internal security evolution.”
He reminded the promoted officers that to whom much is given, much more is expected, saying, “Crime, as you know, is a dynamic and increasingly complex phenomenon and the national demand of you, higher level of loyalty, courage and professional competence needed to move the Nigeria Police and indeed, the nation to the next level in relation to internal security.”
Also, yesterday, the IGP at a meeting with Squadron Commanders of Police Mobile Force, Counter-Terrorism Units and Special Protection Force warned against incivility to civilians, misuse of firearms, deployment of personnel on unauthorized duties and mounting of illegal roadblocks by their personnel.
“These unprofessional and illegal conducts are almost intolerable. Your primary duty is the protection of lives and property of citizens and strict adherence to Force orders and directives in so doing.
“Indeed, the need to perform your duties within the dictates of rule of law and best internal standards is sacrosanct and should never be compromised under any circumstance or guise,” he added.