Olusegun Ariyo
The Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Hashimu Argungu (Rtd) said on Tuesday that special promotions in the Nigeria Police Force have been abolished.
Ikechukwu Ani, Head, Press and Public Relations, in a statement, said the chairman stated this while receiving in audience a delegation of members of the executive of the Association of Retired Police Officers of Nigeria.
He declared that merit, based on passing of prescribed examination and other basic requirements, will now count on the promotion of officers and Men of the Nigeria Police Force.
He noted that there was nothing like a special promotion anywhere around the world, stressing that the Commission under his watch would not encourage it.
The PSC Chairman said the law allowed for accelerated promotion of officers who have shown uncommon dexterity in the discharge of their duties, but noted that this will be done with care so as not to abuse it.
According to him, “promotion will now be on merit and there will be written examination and interview”, adding that “any officer who fails promotion examination will remain on the same rank and if he fails three times, he will be retired at that level for incompetence.”
He said he was proud of the Nigeria Police Force which he served and retired as a Deputy Inspector General and would not at any point disappoint the Force.
“A policeman is like Ceasers’ wife and should be above suspicion, it is country first. If I die and have to come back, I will still want to be a Policeman.
“Police are jack of all trades and master of all, I will not fail that institution and I will also not fail the PSC, I will do my best not to put the two institutions to shame,” he noted.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Association, AIG Paul Ochonu (rtd) had told the PSC Chairman that they came to extend their hand of fellowship to the Commission “and pledge our unalloyed loyalty to its leadership”.
He said the Association had rejoiced when both the National Security Adviser and the Chairman of the PSC were all policemen, stressing that they had hoped they would have forged a united working platform with the Inspector General of Police.
