By Monday Ijeh
The Steering Committee on the establishment of State Police said its approach to the transition of the Nigeria Police Force officers was governed by six non-negotiable principles.
The committee, Chaired by Prof. Olu Ogunsakin, made the suggestion in a report made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abuja.
The committee, inaugurated by the Inspector-General of Police (I-G), Mr Olatunji Disu, said no police officer would lose employment as a result of the establishment of State Police Service (SPS).
The committee said the transition from Federal Police Service (FPS) to SPS would not lead to involuntary dismissal of officers.
“No officer shall be involuntarily dismissed or lose their employment as a direct result of the establishment of SPS, except in the ordinary course of disciplinary or retirement processes.
“All officers’ accrued rights to salary, pension, benefits, and service recognition shall be fully protected throughout the transition, regardless of which Service they ultimately serve in,” it said.
It suggested that the transition had been designed as an expansion of the overall policing establishment, not a reduction, adding that, the creation of SPS would result in more police officers serving Nigeria.
It said officers would be empowered by choice, adding that, the primary mechanism for distributing officers between FPS and SPS would be voluntary self-selection, not compulsory reassignment.
According to the report, officers’ professional identities and institutional pride will be respected throughout the process.
The committee said the transition would be communicated as an evolution and enhancement of Nigerian policing, not a demotion or dissolution of the FPS.
It said all transition processes would be publicly communicated, and that officers would receive full and timely information about their options.
The committee said the I-G would maintain a dedicated transition communications channel for all officers, irrespective of ranks.
It said the current 273,648 officers of the FPS would be classified into five categories, I-G to AIG, CP to ACP, CSP to ASP, Insp. to rank and files, and civilian staff.
It further said those in the category of I-G to AIG would be at the National command level and would remain in FPS to provide transition leadership or secondment option to NPSB or FCPCC.
It said those in category of CP to ACP would be at state, zonal and formation level with option to remain in FPS for national or zonal roles or transfer to lead SPS as inaugural commissioners.
According to the report, those on the category of CSP and ASP, operational and administrative officer will have option to remain in FPS or transfer to SPS commissioned officers cadre with rank, recognised.
The committee said those in Inspector and rank and file category were the middle supervisory cadre, frontline operational officers and non-sworn FPS support personnel.
It said those in the category would have option to remain in FPS or transfer to equivalent police rank, offered home-state transfer option and also, eligible for new state police recruitment.
It said those in civilian category, administrative, technical and support personnel would have option to remain in FPS or transfer to equivalent state Police administrative role, with no compulsory redeployment.
It said the classification exercise would be completed within the first six months of the Preparation Phase, months one to six.
It said the FPS would retain 40 per cent of officers to perform federal duties, while 60 per cent would be ceded to the SPS. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Sadiya Hamza
