The Nigeria Police Service Commission, NPSC, and the Bureau of Public Service Reforms, BPSR, yesterday held discussions on reforming the country’s policing system, and also to address the problems affecting the Police Force.
The discussion took place at the Commission’s Corporate Head Office in Abuja, when the Director General of BPSR, Mr. Dasuki Ibrahim Arabi, paid an advocacy visit to Dr. Solomon Arase, the Chairman of NPSC.
While addressing Arase and other top management of the Commission, Arabi noted that the establishment of the Police Service Commission was a pivotal step towards realizing a transformative vision for law enforcement in our nation.
He stated that their role as the Bureau of Public Service Reforms aligns seamlessly with the NPSC’s noble mandate.
He said: “We are committed to supporting the implementation of robust systems for internal oversight, performance evaluation, and disciplinary procedures. These measures are indispensable to ensuring accountability and deterring misconduct within the police service. Transparency, another vital tenet, will be fortified through mechanisms for public reporting, citizen feedback, and responsive complaint handling”.
The BPSR helmsman said that their commitment to promoting excellent performance within the police service extends to recognizing and rewarding professionalism, fostering career progression, and providing avenues for skill development.
“By institutionalizing policies and practices that uphold these standards, we aim to create a culture of excellence that permeates every aspect of the police service,” he said.
Mr. Arabi said their Bureau of Public Service Reforms is steadfast in its commitment to supporting the Police Service Commission’s endeavors to transform the Nigeria Police Service.
He said: “With a shared commitment to upholding the rule of law, respecting citizens’ rights, embracing meritocracy, and fostering integrity, our collaboration becomes all the more significant. These principles, irrespective of circumstance, provide the foundation upon which our collective efforts must rest”.
Arabi, further observed that the mandate of the Police Service Commission to transition from the Nigeria Police Force to the Nigeria Police Service underscores a profound transformation “in the way we approach public safety”.
“We envision a police service that embodies democratic policing ethics, exhibiting courage, diligence, honesty, and impartiality. Such a police service, highly motivated, disciplined, efficient, and accountable, will undoubtedly contribute to the development of institutional capacity crucial for discharging the Commission’s central functions,” he said.
According to the BPSR Chief Executive, “The synergy between our organizations is evident in our shared vision to eliminate corruption, abuse of power, and misconduct. By doing so, we aim to restore public trust and confidence in the Nigeria Police Service.
“We recognize that police service reforms are pivotal in enhancing internal security and fostering trust between law enforcement agencies and the community. Through these reforms, we can build a collaborative and supportive relationship, rooted in professionalism, accountability, and transparency.
“Successful reforms lead to a more citizen-centric police force, resulting in improved public safety, crime reduction, and enhanced overall security.
“The publications we have undertaken, such as the “Rapid Institutional Assessment of the Nigeria Police internal complaints mechanism,” “Report on the expert roundtable on the reform of Federal Special Anti-robbery Squad (F-SARS) and the role of External Accountability Agencies,” “Mapping the Process of obtaining Bail from the Nigeria Police Station,” and “Rapid Institutional Assessment of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC),” are testaments to our dedication to fostering positive change”.
While responding, Mr. Arase identified the lack of sustainability in policing reforms as the problem affecting the Nigerian Police.
He assured that the NPSC will work together with the Bureau in driving critical reforms for the Police Force.
Aliyu Umar A
ACIO (BPSR)
