The Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio has charged the Police Service Commission, PSC, to build a police force where the institution of police must no longer be seen merely as an arm of coercion, but as an engine of trust, justice and public service.
Akpabio threw the charge at PSC during the opening ceremony at the 4-day induction programme for board members of the Police Service Commission holding at Ikot Ekpene in Akwa Ibom State.
Akpabio, who was the special guest of honour at the occasion but was represented by the deputy senate President, Dr. Barau Jibrin, charged the new members not to see their new position as mere appointment but a call to purpose, a mandate to reform and a sacred trust to serve.
Akpabio noted that without a Police Force rooted in Justice and trusted by the People, ” the foundations of our democracy tremble, the peace we cherish grows fragile and the very fabric of our national life begins to fret”.
In a paper titled “Building a Police Force that works for all” the Senate President reminded the new Members that they have been summoned to a duty as weighty as it is historic and urged them to ” leave a mark. Leave a legacy. Leave the system better than you met it” adding ” I invite you beyond induction into introspection; beyond titles into tasks; beyond routine into reform.
He said Nigeria stands at a threshold where “our Police Force must no longer be seen merely as an arm of coercion, but as an engine of trust, justice and Public service “.
Senator Akpabio admitted that the challenges before the Commission were enormous-ranging from funding deficits, outdated training models and low morale, to the corrosive effects of corruption and the burden of Police distrust”
He however reminded the new Members that light shines brightest in darkness adding ” this is your moment to be that light”.
The Senate President noted that one of the critical pillars of the PSC deliberations must be policy direction and urged the Commission to adopt policies that reposition the Police as protectors, not predators; as community partners not isolated enforcers.
According to him, “on Instutional Reform, we must acknowledge that no system Reforms intself…on performance optimization, it is time to introduce a reward system that recognises and uplifts those Officers who embody the finest ideals of public service. ”
The Senate President said the Senate recognises that no reform will endure without Legislative partnership and promised that the National Assembly “stands ready to review outdated laws, approve essential Reforms and provide the robust oversight needed to ensure a professional, a people-oriented Police system”.
The opening ceremony also received goodwill messages from the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno; the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Police Affairs, Amb. Ahmed Abdulhamid Mallam Madori; the Inspector General of Police, IGP Olukayode Egbetokun and the Chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Dr. George Akume in his message read on his behalf by the Permanent Secretary, General Services, Dr. Maurice Mberi told the new Board that the Federal Government envisions and supports a governance structure “where no individual acts in isolation” adding that the present Administration ” has clearly reaffirmed the importance of upholding collective responsibility in the administration of federal executive bodies”.
Chairman of the Commission, DIG Hashimu Argungu rtd in his opening remarks underscored the importance of the induction programme and said the Commission was now ready to get it right and build bridges of progress for the Nigeria of Police Force.
Justice Paul Adamu Galumje, retired Justice of the Supreme Court and Member representing the Judiciary in his welcome address said the programme is organised to usher in the members of the commission to acquaint them with the activities of the commission.
According to him “it is the hope of all the new members including myself that at the end of the programme, we will be better equipped to carry out the oversight function over the Nigeria Police Force as assigned to us by the Constitution and other relevant statutes.”