Thumbs are up by Nigerians to the federal government and Police Service Commission (PSC) for putting smiles on the faces of policemen and women in the country. Gone are the days when it was said “police will receive their reward from heaven.”
Less than three years ago, 2010 to be precise, till date the police have witnessed mass promotion, moving from one rank to another throughout the nation.
The PSC in August 2010 promoted 35 Deputy Commissioners of Police to the rank of commissioners. In the same vein 46 assistant commissioners of police were elevated to the rank of deputy commissioners of police while 56 chief superintendents of police were promoted to assistant commissioners of police. This was followed by promoting 86 superintendents of police who moved up as chief superintendents of police.
According to the PSC chief Information officer, Ferdinand Ekpe, the promotions came after the 20th plenary meeting held in Abuja and in exercise of powers conferred on PSC by the constitution and its enabling law. The PSC took among other decisions, the promotion of a total of 219 police officers ranging from the ranks of superintendents to commissioners of police based on seniority, merit, availability of vacancies, favourable APER results and minimum of three years on a rank.
The mass promotion has now led Rivers State to have her first CP being moved to the rank of AIG of Police in person of Abba and another energetic CP in person of Mohammed Ndabawa.
The exercise really showed the resolve of PSC that no competent officer of the force who truly merits promotions shall be denied. The commission equally approved the promotion of 86 to the rank of chief superintendent of police in the force.
While congratulating the successful officers, it is expected by Nigerians that they should live up to the new responsibilities their elevation has placed them.
However, all members of the force are admonished to work hard so as to earn promotion as it was only competence and hard work that could earn an officer promotion. ###
Senibo A. A. Cookey
