Police Service Commission Staff Storm National Assembly, Protest Police Illegal Interference

By Ayodele Oni

The staff of the Police Service Commission have continued to press for free hand to implement the core mandates on which the commission was established

Last month, the workers embarked on three days strike over what it called usurpation of the commission’s functions by the Nigeria Police Force(NPF).

The workers did not stop there as they protested at the National Assembly, on Wednesday, insisting on restoration of the Commission’s three core mandates.

Carrying placards with different inscriptions, the workers said their agitation is simply usurpation of the mandates of the Commission by the Nigeria Police Force.

This has become a subject of litigation since 2019 up to the Court of Appeal and the workers are alleging contempt of court.

They identified Recruitment, Promotion, and Discipline as the three core mandates of the Commission stipulated in the Act establishing it.

Both the commission and the NPF

are expected to collaborate in the area of recruitment, while officers that are due for promotion are recommended to the commission for elevation by NPF.

The Joint Union Congress of the Police Service Commission, (PSC) had issued a notice of indefinite strike effective from Monday, August 29, 2022.

Chairman of the Joint Service Union, PSC chapter, Mr Adoyi Adoyi, announced in Abuja that the notice is coming amidst disagreement between workers of the commission, the Chairman of the commission, Mr Musiliu Smith, and the Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba, on the functions of the commission.

PSC, according to statute establishing it is responsible for recruitment, promotion, and appointment of constables and officers.

This has led to the suspension of the exercise nationwide until further notice.

Adoyi  pointed out that the IGP and other police chiefs in connivance with the chairman of the PSC, have overruled the constitutional duty of the PSC.

The union leader added that the IGP has allegedly taken it upon himself to carry out the functions of the PSC in flagrant disregard of the Nigeria constitution, a verdict of the Appeal Court, and the authorities of the PSC.

 “We’re embarking on an indefinite strike from Monday, August 29, to show our discontent with the way the PSC is being run by the chairman of the commission, and the flagrant disregard for the constitution, the court of law, and the PSC by the IGP, Usman Baba.

“The duties of the PSC are spelt out in the constitution, but the IGP has disregarded all of that, and has taken over the duties of the commission.

“He appoints and promotes at will as opposed to what is stated in the constitution.

“According to the constitution, the appointment, promotion, and recruitment of police officers and constables are the prerogative of the PSC, not the IGP.”