JOINT STATEMENT BY CIVIL SOCIETY ON THE APPOINTMENT OF SOLOMON ARASE AS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE POLICE SERVICE COMMISSION (PSC)
We, the undersigned civil society organisations spread across Nigeria congratulate IGP Solomon Arase on his appointment as the new Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC).
We congratulate him not because we have shifted from our position against the practice of appointment of serving or retired Police officers as Chairman of the PSC, but because of Arase’s antecedents and his high approval rating as an up-beat police officer and a record-breaking IGP, for the relatively short time he spent in that office. However, we remain firmly committed to our well-considered standpoint against the appointment of retired police officers or anyone with military/paramilitary training as chairman of the PSC.
Yes, we can relatively vouch-safe Arase’s high probability of making a success of this appointment but hasten to strongly point out that it is better and most rewarding for nations to be built upon strong institutions rather than strong personalities. This is why we must, going forward, adopt and stick to the international best practice of having a competent and unbiased person as the chair of PSC, being a civilian external oversight and accountability mechanism for the Nigeria police.
We hope Arase will be the last retired Police chief to be appointed to head the PSC.
While we applaud Arase’s vision of modern and democratic policing that is transparent, responsible, accountable and respectful of human rights, we charge him to bring his vast and versatile exposure, his academic competences and professional expertise to bear on this new assignment with a view to asserting the constitutional and legal authority of the PSC over the recruitment, motivation, promotion and discipline of officers and men of the Nigeria Police. He must strive to bring to a decisive end the unnecessary, diversionary and totally uncalled-for struggle between the office of the IGP and the PSC. The unsavoury situation has cost Nigeria too much and everything must be done to ensure a seamless relationship, without demeaning the legal and constitutional superintending powers of the PSC. Achieving this will make policing in a constitutional democracy more meaningful, satisfying and satisfactory.
To help the PSC effectively perform its oversight functions, with a view to having an accountable police establishment, we urge Arase and the PSC to encourage and insist on transparent internal accountability mechanisms within the Nigeria Police, for example:
The strategic Advisory Committee (which Arase set up upon assumption of office as (IGP) comprising of police officers, representatives of CSOs and other critical stakeholders.
The Complaints Response Unit (CRU) – a veritable internal accountability legacy Arase bequeathed the NPF but which, now, at best, is floundering, fumbling and wobbling.
The CRU was an improvement on existing public complaints mechanisms by introducing the use of technology and expanding the platforms through which members of the public could send complaints against police misconduct and receive timely feedback.
Succeeding IGPs have not given the CRU the needed support to retain and maintain the lofty vision that propelled its establishment.
The CRU has a committed and professionally minded leadership but lacks police management support.
We will support Arase to succeed hoping that under him, the urgently needed reforms of the PSC which started last year with a Bill for an Act, aimed at overhauling its legal infrastructure, will be pushed through under his leadership. These reforms revolve around leadership qualification and appointment procedure, strengthening the investigative powers and competences of the PSC and streamlining the mandate of the PSC with regards to police recruitment and appointment, discipline and promotion.
Signed:
1. Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC)
2. Rights Enforcement and Public Law Centre (REPLACE)
3. Confluence of Rights, Nigeria
4. Centre for Citizens Rights
5. African Youths Initiative on Crime Prevention (AYICRIP)
6. Initiative for Social Development in Africa (iSODAF)
7. Human Rights Social Development and Environmental Foundation (HURSDEF)
8. Onyigbuo Stephen Uche
9.Justice for Peace and Development Initiative
10. Nde Oduko Foundation
11. Vivacious Development Initiative (VIDI)
12. Centre for Citizens Rights
13. Centre for Transparency Advocacy (CTA)
14. Media Initiative Against Injustice Violence and Corruption (MIIVOC)
15. One Love Foundation
16. Pathlegal & Co
17. Samuel Ihensekhien
18. Sam Akpologun
19. Felicitas
20. COMPPART Foundation for Justice and Peacebuilding