The Police Service Commission has endorsed new policy guidelines concerning the deployment of management and tactical commanders within the Nigeria Police Force.
One key aspect emphasized in the guidelines is the importance of gender sensitivity when deploying Assistant Inspectors-General of Police and Commissioners of Police to Zonal and State Command Headquarters.
The decision was made during the 21st Plenary Meeting of the Commission, which took place at its Corporate Headquarters in Jabi, Abuja on Thursday, June 15th, 2023 presided by its Chairman, Solomon Arase.
Arase emphasized the need for the Nigeria Police Force to adhere to the principle of Federal Character in both recruitment and deployment at all levels.
The Commission recognized that the current deployment of Commissioners of Police to State Commands does not adequately reflect the principles of equity and fairness for all geo-political zones of the country while specifically highlighting the imbalance in deployments affecting the North-East and South-East geopolitical zones.
Moreover, the Commission expressed concerns about the disproportionate distribution and uneven deployment of Command Commissioners and stressed the significance of fair representation for all geo-political zones in the deployments to address the feelings of marginalization and injustice experienced by certain zones within the Nigeria Police Force.
Relying on Section 6(e) and (7) of the Police Service Commission Act, which empowers the Commission to formulate and implement policies to enhance the efficiency and discipline of the Nigeria Police Force, the new policy guidelines were considered and approved during the Plenary Meeting.
According to the guidelines, future requests for the deployment of Commissioners of Police to State Commands must prioritize the disadvantaged zones in order to rectify the existing imbalance and skewed deployments against the North-East and South-East regions of the country.
The Commission mandated that all geo-political zones should have a minimum representation of 15 percent in the deployment of Assistant Inspectors-General of Police to Zones, Commissioners of Police to State Commands, and the posting of Commanding Officers of Police Mobile Force, Counter-Terrorism CTU, and Special Protection Unit (SPU).
The Commission also said there is the need for police deployments to zones and commands, both at the management (Deputy Commissioners of Police and Assistant Commissioners of Police) and tactical levels (Commanding Officers of PMF/SPU/CTU), to recognize the country’s diversity and promote fairness and equity in terms of ethnicity and religion.
The Commission provided guidance to the Inspector General, urging them to adhere to these policy guidelines founded on principles of fairness and justice for all members of the Nigeria Police Force.
The aim is to foster trust and confidence among the Nigerian people and encourage their active participation, understanding, cooperation, and support toward enhancing community safety and ensuring adequate internal security in Nigeria.
Regarding the Commission’s policy on the imperativeness of gender sensitivity in the deployment of Assistant Inspectors-General of Police and Commissioners of Police, it noted with concern the ongoing practice of deploying only male police officers to Zones and Commands, without fair consideration and representation of qualified female police officers for such positions.
The Commission noted that such practice could undermine women’s empowerment and inclusivity in governance within the Police. As a result, it approved that at least three out of the thirty-seven State Commands must have female Police Officers appointed as their Commissioners of Police.
Similarly, at least one Zone out of the seventeen Zonal Headquarters must have a female Assistant Inspector General of Police appointed as the head of the zone.
During the Plenary Meeting, the Commission also approved the appointment of two Deputy Inspectors General of Police, as well as the promotion of 14 Commissioners of Police to the rank of Assistant Inspectors General of Police.
Notably, CP Adebowale Williams, the former Commissioner of Police for Oyo State Command, was among those promoted. Additionally, 22 Deputy Commissioners of Police were promoted to substantive Commissioners of Police, including DCP Enyinnaya Inonachi Adiogu, formerly serving as Deputy Commissioner of Special Fraud Unit (SFU) in Ikoyi, Lagos.