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By Christopher Oji
A non-governmental organisation (NGO), Global Rising International (GRI), has charged police officers to change their attitudes for good, so as to change the narrative by members of the public who see them as evil.
The charge was given at the weekend during the 6th edition of the workshop by GRI, organised for senior police officers at the Police Officer’s Mess, Ikeja, Lagos.
The convener of the workshop, Apostle Kalu Azu: “ After this workshop, start leading a good life. Let the change that we are talking about begin from individual officers here present, and it will trickle down to your subordinates. When dealing with an individual and he sees that you did not do what he was expecting from you, he will be the one to announce that he met a sincere police officer; so let the change begin today”.
Azu charged the government to prioritise the welfare of police officers, aiming to boost their morale and enhance their effectiveness in safeguarding the life and property of citizens.
Apostle Kalu emphasised the importance of changing the mindset of police officers through programmes that encourage them to perform their duties effectively. He expressed concern about the well-being of the Nigerian police and highlighted the need to improve their lives while they serve the community.
“I believe their lives are supposed to be an imitation of the people they are trying to safeguard, but I found out that some of the things they do are not too good.”
He stressed the significance of addressing issues such as low salaries and lack of proper care for officers, noting that these factors could impact their ability to perform their duties adequately. Global Rising International, as an NGO, has taken the initiative to contribute to the improvement of police officers’ lives.
Azu mentioned their efforts, including providing books to libraries and organising training sessions to bring about a positive change. He expressed hope that the efforts would influence a positive shift in the behaviour and performance of the police force.
Azu also revealed that the mission of GRI goes beyond training, as plans were ongoing to provide desktop computers for police stations, aiming to streamline data management and transition away from paper-based processes. He acknowledged the efforts made on the training so far has been a personal investment, and called for support from the government and other stakeholders to expand the training to other agencies.
“I urged the government to take a look at how to support this initiative, so that the police officers can benefit more”.
Mr. Simon Afolabi, a clergyman and facilitator at the workshop, emphasised the importance of boosting the morale of police officers. He highlighted the societal tendency to overlook the sacrifices made by the police and encouraged appreciation for their role in maintaining order.
Afolabi suggested that the government play a crucial role in improving police welfare, starting from the recruitment stage and addressing issues such as mobility and housing for serving officers.
He called for increased attention to the welfare of officers, while stating that a well-supported police force is better equipped to serve and protect the community effectively.
