Police officers should have no business in land matters, debt collection – PSC boss, Arase
*Harps on consequence for officers’ misconduct, benefit for good conduct
By BASHIR ADEFAKA
The Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), IGP Solomon Arase (Rtd), on Thursday April 6th 2023, posited that there must be no connection between police officers and land matters just as neither any officer or men of the force should be involved in debt collection.
He made this position known while receiving in audience the national leadership of the Police Community Relations Committee, when the team visited the police service commission boss in Abuja.
During the visit, the retired officer, who saw the starting of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration as IGP in 2015 and is now seeing its ending as PSC chairman in 2023, pledged to work in partnership with the Inspector General of Police to reinvigorate the Nigeria Police Force for better performance.
In a statement sent to The DEFENDER on Friday and signed by Director, Press and Public Relations of the Police Service Commission, Mr. Ikechukwu Ani, Dr. Arase was said to have noted that for the Police to excel in its day-to-day operations, there must be consquences for misconduct and benefits for examplary behaviour.
He said benefits and burden must go together, stressing that he will strive to complement what the Police is currently doing to ensure that the operations of the Police must conform with its rules of engagement.
The PSC Chairman said the Police has no reason to go into land matters or debt collection, issues that should be handled through alternative dispute resolution, adding that he will remain a strong advocate of community partnership in policing.
He however noted that he was worried over the increasing cases of human rights abuses in the Police.
Dr. Arase pledged to support the visiting delegation in areas they needed his support.
The national Chairman of the Committee, Alhaji Mogaji Ibrahim Olaniya, earlier in his brief remarks, commended Mr. President for his appointment, stressing, “You are the best for job.”
Alhaji Olaniya said the Committee was in the Commission to congratulate him on his appointment and to let him know that they were vigorously building on the legacies he established as the 18th Inspector General of Police.
He said the Committee now has offices outside the country, such as in Canada, United Kingdom etc, adding “We are here to say that the fruit God used you and others to plant has germinated. We are here to rejoice with you and show you love.”
The National President said the Committee will be 39 years old on May 8th, 2023 and that on May 9th, “We want to celebrate it and we are inviting you to the celebration.”
He made a case for special promotion for deserving Police Officers to encourage them to put in more efforts in the service of the nation.
