By  Sunday Ehindero

I READ with disbelief the title and the recommendation of Owei Lakemfa in the Vanguard, Monday, July 11, 2016 at page 33 that the ‘IGP need not be a policeman’. He recommended that as alternative to sacking police officers senior to newly appointed IGP, a retired judge or a conscientious Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) be appointed IGP and that the post of DIG be made the terminal point for serving police officers.

*Ehindero

As a one-time police officer, I cannot resist the temptation to reply such tendentious recommendation. May be, it is important to remind him of the nature, magnitude and complexities of the Nigeria Police Force.  The Nigeria Police Force is the largest organization in this country for the maintenance of law, order and the control of crime.

It has a work-force of about five hundred thousand policemen. Over the years, it has been a symbol of cohesion, unity and an organisation on which both federal and state governments depend on in the maintenance of peace and tranquility in their domain. Her area of operations covers the field and extends to the States and local government Councils.

Constitution making process

The challenges facing the organization include terrorism, kidnapping, hostage taking, farmers cum herdsmen encounter,  robbery, trans-national crimes amongst others. The IGP is in charge of operation control of the Force. How can such an organization be placed in the hands of someone who is not a policeman, grilled in the art of policing?

I recollect about twenty years ago, in one of our aborted Constitution making process, an attempt was made to make a Brigadier-General head the Police Force. It was rejected by the Constituent Assembly. As a result, section 215 (1) of the 1999 Constitution came into being in the appointment of the Inspector General of Police. It provides; There shall be an Inspector-General of Police who, …shall be appointed by the President on the advice of the Nigeria Police Council from among serving members of the Nigeria Police Force. So it is imperative that the Inspector-General of Police must be a policeman.

It appears unrealistic to peg the career prospect of policemen to the rank of DIG. Why can they not aspire to the top of their profession?  Let us examine how the head of some organization are appointed. In the Judiciary, a chief Justice of Nigeria is appointed by the President on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council (NJC) subject to confirmation of such appointment by the Senate. Judges are usually recommended by NJC.

In the appointments of Chairmen of Federal Commissions and Councils the appointments are made by the President subject to confirmation by the Senate. Such Commissions include the Nigeria Police Council, Police Service Commission. However, in the appointment of Chairmen of INEC, National Judicial Council, The Federal Judicial Service Commission or the National Population Commission the President shall consult the Council of State.

Confirmation by the Senate

The Auditor-General for the Federation is appointed by the President on the recommendation of the Federal Civil Service Commission, subject to confirmation by the Senate. It is unheard of for the Auditor-General who is not a Chartered Accountant to be appointed by the President. Should the appointment of IGP by the President be, as it is, on the advice of the Nigeria Police Council or on the recommendation of the Nigeria Police Council?

I think recommendation is better since it envisages the process by which two or more candidates are nominated from which the President would choose from. An advice need not recommend names. Advice is at large while recommendation is specific, in my estimation. Should such appointment of an IGP be confirmed by the Senate? It has its merits and demerits.

But, let it be known that there is no way you can impede the power of the President to choose the IGP he desires to work with. That is his prerogative. Our democracy is an Executive Presidential one. It is unfortunate that this time around a lot of AIGs are casualties. Look at the list of AIGs retired. Some are the course mates of Arase who should have, anyway, retired with him having completed thirty-five service or attaining 60 years old.

Some don’t have more than one year to their retirement. Unfortunately, a few have more than two years to go. All appointments above the rank of Commissioner of Police are political in the sense that they must comply with the Six Geo-Political Zones. In the process, some senior officers are unfortunately skipped and the juniors promoted. Casualties are inevitable in the process of political consideration. Ultimately, you don’t talk of right or wrong in political consideration. You only talk of validity of action.