
President Muhammadu Buhari has restated the commitment of his administration to improving the welfare of police personnel to engender effective policing.
President Buhari stated this in Abuja as he was receiving the 2021 audited report and 2023 budget proposal of the Police Service Commission, PSC.
According to him, his administration has made the welfare of police officers and men a priority and police reforms a sacred duty.
“I particularly note that accommodation for police officers and men is very critical and this administration has made the welfare of police officers and men, and indeed, the armed forces a top priority.” President Buhari stated.
To underscore the importance of quality welfare in effective service delivery, the President declared:
“I know that when officers and men are posted on duty or assignments and they know that their families live in barracks with facilities, schools, clinics and a conducive living environment, their morale is boosted and they would discharge their duties with courage and efficiency. I am pretty aware of the problems and challenges confronting the Nigeria Police Force and the Armed Forces. The problem is relative to time and resources and this administration has done a lot with the limitations,” he added.
While assuring the Acting Chairman that their requests would be considered, President Buhari said that dwindling resources, arising from fall in crude oil price and local production posed a major challenge, which the present administration had to contend with.
Presenting the 2021 audited report and the 2023 budget proposal to the President, Acting Chairman of the Commission, retired Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Clara Ogunbiyi, expressed delight at performing the statutory function of presenting the report, in accordance with Section 17 of the Police Service Commission Establishment Act 2001.
The Acting Chairman said the present management made it a point of duty to keep the President abreast of happenings in the Commission:
“Upon the inauguration of the present Management on the 28th July, 2018, we made it a duty to keep you abreast with the progress, problems and challenges of the Commission through this procedure. This is the 5th in the series.” she noted.
Justice Ogunbiyi commended the administration of President Buhari for always upholding the rule of law, noting that as members of the management team of the Commission, they had no other alternative than to guard the mandate jealously as expressed by the framers of the Constitution.
“Thus, the Commission has been consistent in ensuring that disciplinary sanctions are meted out to erring police officers, making sure officers are promoted as at when due, taking into consideration available vacancies and seniority, and ensuring that proper and fit persons are recruited into the Nigerian Police Force.” she stated.
The retired Justice requested that the budget of commission be placed among the first line charge in budget allocation, arguing that such will allow the commission to be more effective.
She also expressed appreciation to the President for the prompt release of funds towards the completion of its headquarters, and requested for a convenient time to perform the commissioning.
The Minister of Police Affairs, Alhaji Maigari Dingyadi, led members of the Commission to the presentation.