Some Nigerians on Sunday commended the plan to restructure the Nigeria Police Force by deploying Deputy Inspectors-General of Police (DIGs) to zonal headquarters to strengthen policing.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The DIGs, to be replaced by Assistant Inspectors-General of Police at the Force Headquarters, will be empowered to deploy, discipline and promote officers and men in their zonal commands.
The restructuring is to be done by the Police Service Commission.
In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, some Nigerians said that the restructuring would enhance the performance of the police.
Mr Dipo Kehinde, a security expert and the Chief Promoter, Chief Detective Magazine, commended the plan to empower DIGs and some other senior officers to promote hardworking men under them.
“In my years on the crime beat, I saw many outstanding officers, who were so committed to crime fighting but were not being promoted.
“Some non-performers kept on climbing the ladder of the police hierarchy through the aid of quota system or godfathers.
“Some were always in school acquiring certificates, while others were out there, day and night, fighting crimes.
“You see the more educated ones moving up and leaving the less educated crime fighters behind.
“These less educated officers met the prerequisite for joining the police and have all been trained by the police institution.
“I can recall the case of a retired SP Ghaji Abana and the late SP Adekolu Ojo, who were bad news to armed robbers in Lagos, but were not promoted because the commissioner of police had no power to do that.
“This is one of those things that affect morale in the Nigeria Police Force. The present Inspector-General of Police was also a victim.
“He must have spent more than eight years as a commissioner of police and a hardworking one.
“It is a good thing that after making it to the top of the ladder, he has not forgotten the plight of several heroic and outstanding policemen who have been marking time on a rank unjustly,’’ he said.
Mr Christopher Oji, the Chairman, Crime Reporters Association of Nigeria (CRAN), said that the restructuring was overdue.
He told NAN that the police force was too large.
“Most DIGs are in the office at the Force Headquarters without any serious functions.
“If they are posted to head zones, they will be seriously occupied.
“It is time some of the issues that state commands bring to the I-G should be taken to DIGs in their zones to handle.
“Every DIG is a prospective I-G. If a DIG has the power to punish and promote some categories of officers and men, that will reduce the burden on the I-G.
“We have seen a situation where the I-G is out of town, everything that needs his attention would wait until he comes,’’ he said.
Oji said that it was wrong for DIGs to be retired alongside an outgoing I-G.
He described the situation as a waste of human resources.
“DIGs are good and experienced officers who the government spent money to train,’’ he said.
Chief Gabriel Giwa-Amu, a rights activist and lawyer, described the plan as a right step in the right direction.
“This is an indication that, in not too long a time, a local government would have its own police.
“I do not see the reason why the federal police should investigate petty theft in a state.
“Why should the I-G give directives on what happens in a local government or state, from Abuja?
“I-G can make a recommendation to DIGs on any officer for promotion or punishment, but it is time the police is run from the grassroots,’’ he said.
Mr Mike Okiro, the Chairman of the Police Service Commission and a former I-G, however, told NAN in Lagos that lack of funds and offices for the DIGs was hindering the commencement of the restructuring.
“There is a plan to restructure the police into six geopolitical zones.
“They would be empowered to promote and discipline officers from the rank of constable to chief superintendent of police.
“We are looking for funds and offices for the DIGs to commence operations.
“That would reduce the burden on the I-G to some extent,’’ Okiro said.
