PSC: Tinubu Sacks Arase One Year Into Five-Year Tenure, Appoints  Argungu As New Chairman

By Ayodele Oni

It was an unexpected Sallah gift, in advance, from President Bola Tinubu to the Dr. Solomon Arase, a retired Inspector General of Police.

The gift was one that shocked Arase and shook the Police Service Commission.

While Arase was on official duties in Ogun State   President Tinubu pulled the rug from under his feet. He sacked him as the Chairman of the Police Service Commission. It was in Ogun State that Arase heard of his sack.

In his place, President Tinubu appointed retired Deputy Inspector General of Police, Hashimu Argungu from Kebbi State.

Arase was from Edo State.

Arase’s sack, which was announced in a statement signed by Presidential Spokesperson, Ajuri Ngelale, also announced the appointment of the very  competent Taiwo Lakanu, a Lawyer and a retired Deputy Inspector General of Police, as a member of the Commission. Lakanu  will represent the Police on the Commission. Onyemuche Nnamani was, also, appointed by the President as Secretary to the Commission.

Onyemuche was, already, a member of the Commission  representing the South-east on the Commission. Unless he would combine his appointment as Secretary with that of his position as a Commissioner, appointing him as a Secretary is a demotion. But more important, it would mean that that the SE has no Commissioner representing it, meaning that somebody needs to be appointed.

Until now, Federal Permanent were the only ones appointed as Secretary to the Commission.

Arase, a PhD holder in Law, was removed one year into his five year tenure as PSC Chairman. He was inaugurated as the Chairman, by former President Muhammadu Buhari after the unprecedented resignation of retired IGP Musiliu Smith as the Chairman, allegedly, over health issues.

It is not known yet why Mr President sacked him,  but not a few people thought that Arase, a thorough bred officer, was doing a good job.

In the statement which announced Argungu’s appointment, Ngelale said the appointments are subject to confirmation by the Senate, and that “other

members of the Police Service Commission will be appointed in due course.”

However, the announcement did not say the Board has been dissolved.

He stated that President Tinubu, also, approved the appointment of Mohammed Sheidu as the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Police Trust Fund with immediate effect.

“The President expects absolute demonstration of integrity, diligence, and patriotic zeal in the discharge of these important functions for the overall wellbeing of the Nigeria Police and the nation.”

Speculations are rife over why President Tinubu did not allow Arase to serve out his five year tenure.

While a source at the Commission alleges he was sacked over the recent recruitment of 10,000 which sparked a controversy between the Commission and the Force Headquarters, another alleged it had to do with an  investigative report by the ICIR which linked Arase with an alleged unwholesome land business. Arase strongly denied any involvement in any such land deal, and has sued the Reporter and his Publication to Court. On the recruitment, Arase insisted it that it is the job of tye PSC to recruit, as confirmed by the Supreme Court, and not that of the Force Headquarters.

Argungu, the new PSC Chairman was born on 10th July, 1957, and joined the NPF as a Cadet  ASP in 1984. He retired in 2016 on the rank of a DIG. He has a Masters of Laws, LLM.