Jonathan to inaugurate code of conduct for police

Abuja – President Goodluck Jonathan will on Thursday inaugurate a professional Code of Conduct for the Nigeria Police Force, Inspector General of Police, Mr Mohammed Abubabar, has said.

Abubakar announced this on Saturday while hosting newly promoted junior officers of the force to a party at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.

“On the 10th of this month, a professional code of conduct will be launched by Mr President for all officers and men of the Nigeria police for the first time in the history of the Nigeria Police.

“We are putting in this effort to ensure that you are guided, to ensure that our officers are respected, to ensure that Nigerians understand what we should do and what we should not do.

IGP Abubakar and President Jonathan

“We shall continue to do away with things that are not supposed to be with the police. Our ethics must be professional ethics that will be respected and obeyed,’’ he said. The I-G also announced that following the approval of the president, the police have been removed from the contributory pension schemed. He said, henceforth, the force would have its schemed manned by personnel of the police.

“Today, the fight that has been on, that has to do with pension scheme of the Nigeria police is now history. “The Nigeria police will have their own pension scheme. They will administer their own scheme by their own personnel. “We are indeed very grateful to Mr President for his understanding, for his support and approval,’’ he said.

According to him, Mr President is committed to the welfare and well-being of the officers and men of the Nigeria Police. He said, already, a technical committee had been set up to look into the issue of salary and allowances of the police. Abubakar also said that by the middle of 2013, 700 housing units would be delivered to officers in the Inspectorate, and rank-and- file cadres.

“God’s willing, 2013 will be a better year for members of the police because it is in our plan, just like we have started to feed our officers and men who are on duty at the force headquarters. “I am putting in every effort to ensure that anywhere a policeman is on duty, he is being  fed. “All these are measures we are taking to ensure that you are given the benefit that you deserve while in service and while alive. “We have done our best in the service of this country in spite of all odds,’’ he said. (NAN)