Smith, Police Service Commission Chairman, Resigns

By Adesina Soyooye

Tha Chairman of the Police Service Commission, PSC,  Musiliu Smith, has resigned from office.

Smith, a retired Inspector General of Police resigned.on Tuesday, September 6, 2022, when he submitted his letter of resignation to President Muhammadu Buhari.

The President accepted the resignation letter on September 12.

Smith’s  retirement is a consequence of a number of issues that has bedeviled the Commission recently. But in his letter, he said he was resigning on health grounds.

There is the lingering power struggle between the PSC and the Force Headquarters  over whose responsibility it is to recruit Policemen. The Nigerian Constitution gave that responsibility to the PSC. But the leadership of the Police has always tried to grab that it.

The Commission also has the responsibility to promote and disciple Police Officers except the Inspector General of Police.

In previous administrations of the Commission, the Chairmen always put their feet down. During the tenure of the very effective Parry Osayande, a retired Inspector Deputy of Police, DIG, the Commission dragged the FHQs to Court and got judgement.

Smith, also, had to deal with the Staff of the Commission who have been on strike over the problem with the FHQs. The workers on Wednesday, embarked on a protest march carrying placards.

The situation is worsened by the crisis of confidence amongst members of the Commission’s Board. One of them, Najatu Muhammad, wrote a petition  against Smith, accusing him of  alleged monumental corruption. Smith denied the allegation to the letter.

With the resignation of Smith, Commissioner 1, the Honourable Justice Clara Ogunbiyi, a, retired Supreme Court Justice, and representative of the Judiciary on the Commission, will act until President Buhari appoints a new Chairman.