Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has stated that retired cops should not be appointed to the Police Service Commission (PSC).
Remember that the Senate confirmed Solomon Arase, a retired inspector-general of police (IGP), as substantive chair of the PSC in January 2023 to replace Musiliu Smith, also a former IGP, after President Muhammadu Buhari asked the upper legislative chamber to confirm him in accordance with sections 153 (1) and 154 (1) of the amended constitution.
However, during a public presentation of a book on Wednesday, the former president stated that retired police officers should not be appointed to lead the PSC.
According to Obasanjo, police officers should be appointed as commission members, with civilians serving as chair.
According to the former military and civilian ruler, this would ensure effective and efficient service delivery.
On the establishment of state police, Obasanjo said:
I won’t say yes or no, but can they not be abused by the federal government?.
For a federation, it is contrary to the ideal of the country because unitary policing system is not close enough to the community where the police are supposed to be.
The author argued whether the name should truly be the Nigeria Police Force or a police service. I believe the police should be a police service, not a police force.
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