We lack powers to discipline IGP, says Police Commission

The Police Service Commission (PSC) has said it lacks powers to discipline the Inspector General of Police, IGP Ibrahim Idris.

The Commission explained that its Constitutional mandate is to only appoint, promote and discipline Officers of the Nigeria Police Force which does not include the InspectorGeneral.

The IG being an appointee of the President is not  answerable to  the Commission.

Those answerable to the Commission are from the rank of the Deputy Inspector-General of Police  (DIGs) to the rank of Constable in the  Force.

This clarification is due to recent publication in one of the dailies where the Commission was said to have outlived its usefulness .

The Powers of the Commission as stated in paragraph 30, Part 1 of the third Schedule of the 1999 Constitution, reads: “The Commission shall have powers to: (a) appoint persons to offices (other than the office of the Inspector General of Police) in the Nigeria Police Force; and (b) dismiss and exercise disciplinary control over persons holding any office referred to in sub-paragraph (a)”.

The Commission while saying it would function more effectively if there is Constitutional provision that allows it protect its decisions added: “It is also common knowledge that most times, Commission’s decisions are not implemented by the IGP since constitutionally the Commission can not discipline the IGP.”

Reacting to the publication  in a statement in Abuja on Sunday by the Commission’s Spokesman, Ikechukwu Ani said: “The attention of the Commission is drawn to a  front page publication of October 7th, 2017, captioned, “Shocking! more rot in Police exposed”, where one Aisha Tosan went to a great extent to expose alleged ills in the Nigeria Police Force and expected that the Commission should have called the IGP to order.

“As an insider, Tosan who should be genuinely concerned on the alleged rot in the system, should also have known where to squarely place the blame.

“It is common knowledge that the Constitution which gave the Commission the powers to appoint, promote and discipline also did not extend the powers to discipline an IGP who refuses to implement decisions on these powers.

“The Commission under the present leadership of Sir Mike Okiro, is not a mere rubber stamp Agency. It carries out its duties diligently and in accordance with set out guidelines.

“It also in the discharge of this duties, takes the IGP into consideration as the operational head of the Nigeria Police Force.

“The 1999 Constitution, part 111, (supplemental) (b), 215 (2) states; The Nigeria Police Force shall be under the command of the Inspector General of Police.”

On postings of Command CPs, the Commission  said it naturally allows the IGP who works with the officers and who knows their operational capabilities to recommend to it.

On special promotions, the Commission explained that it has given the IGP guidelines that should govern his recommendations adding that all recommendations to the Commission on special promotion has been put on hold pending when he complies with the guidelines.

On the claim that the Commission has outlived its usefulness, the Commission said: “That the current PSC has outlived its usefulness is a joke taken too far by Tosan. If what she meant was failure to rein in the IGP, then she should take another look at the Constitution and the enabling Act of the National Assembly setting up the Commission.”

The Commission however  advised that in a bid  to sanitize the Nigeria Police Force, efforts should not be wasted in unnecessary witch hunt, rather it should be channeled into identifying thevsources of the problems with the intention of putting it right.

The Commission also pledged to continue to work with President Buhari  to give the nation the police force that will be the envy of every Nigerian.

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