Follow Us on Google
From Molly Kilete, Abuja
Chairman of the Police Service Commission(PSC), Dr. Solomon Arase, has met with staff of the commission with a call on them to improve the working relationship between the commission and the nigerian police force.
He said he does not believe that the PSC relationship with the Police must be fractious to show the world “that we are alive to our duties”.
The chairman who said he does not believe that the powers of the Commission should be subsumed by the NPF, pointed out that “ the truth however remains, we cannot succeed and deliver on our mandate as an agency if we are working at cross purposes with the agency we are over-sighting”.
Arase, assured the staff that already serious talks and efforts are ongoing with the Nigerian Police Force towards an amicable resolution and settlement of “all vexatious issues in a win-win situation for all”.
The former IGP, who said that he is in the Commission for service to God and humanity, said that with the support, understanding and patience of the staff, assured that better days ahead.
He said, “Just know that I share in your pains. Your financial complaints are cogent and I promise to always do what I can to lessen these pains”
On the relationship between the commission and the Nigerian police force, Arase, said “I neither work in toxic environment nor subscribe to confrontation and belligerence as a leadership approach to getting results.
“For me, the ultimate is achieving our goals and delivering on our mandate and I believe there are better ways of resolving conflicts without resorting to actions that will embarrass the government and paint both institutions in bad light”
“I do not believe that the powers of the Commission should be subsumed by the NPF (of course it cannot happen under my watch), the truth however remains, we cannot succeed and deliver on our mandate as an agency if we are working at cross purposes with the agency we are over-sighting”
He appealed to the staff to show restraint and eschew every form of preconceptions, misconceptions and prejudices against the NPF for de-escalation of the conflict and restoration of trust and friendliness between the two agencies “
While assuring the Staff that he is totally concerned about their welfare and health, thus the establishment of a sick bay at the cooperate headquarters, the chairman, said that he was not oblivious of the fact that he inherited a lot of liabilities of the Commission in terms of “allowances owed to personnel for different duties performed; ranging from election duties, duty tour allowances to first twenty-eight days; it has always been my belief that workers deserve their wages and there is dignity in labour”
“No wonder, in various leadership positions I have held in life, I always classify the welfare and comfort of people working with me as a top priority”.
“I did not waste time in deploying my contacts and reach at ensuring that these allowances are extinguished in no distant time. Although no funds have been released to this effect as at today, I am hopeful that in no distant time, we will receive positive response”
He appealed to the staff for patience saying I am also losing sleep over the liabilities, and I will not rest on my oars until the liabilities are totally defrayed”.
On repositioning the Commission for optimal functionality in delivering on its mandate, Arase, said he fully understood that the staff must be regularly trained and re-trained on the rudiments of oversight functions.
“On this note, I reached out and held meetings with UN agencies, Embassies, Civil Society Organisations and other government organisations requesting for training assistance and collaborative support towards capacity building of the staff of the Commission.
“A few progress has been made as some Directors were trained virtually in University of Pretoria, South Africa on oversight Course. Some others will be going to NIPPS, Jos and Lagos within this month for different courses”.
