The Rule of Law, Accountability and Advocacy Centre has commended the Inspector General of Police IGP Usman Alkali Baba for getting tough on police officers who engage in acts that bring the image of the police to disrepute.
According to a statement by the Centre made available by its Executive Director, Mr Okechukwu Nwanguma, the activities of such officers deepen negative perception of the police and destroy police public relations pointing out that the NPF prioritizing of displine and accountability is reassuring.
In the past one month alone, the NPF, on the directives of the IGP has dismissed and dekitted police officers for various acts of misconduct, corrupt practice, extortion, incivility and brutality.
“While we continue to point out the shortcomings of the police in terms of conduct and performance, we must equally acknowledge and commend them when they do good things as we are witnesses to”,
“Even in criticizing the police as we should do – because we want the police to work for us, we must be measured and fair in our criticisms taking into account that the Nigeria police are themselves victims of the bad political system”,
“Annual budgetary allocations to the NPF are not enough to meet the needs of one Zonal Command. Funds appropriated or donated to the Police Trust Fund to augment poor budgetary allocations, to provide equipment, training and retraining and to boost the welfare and morale of officers are manipulated and mismanaged and become subjects of endless investigation by anti corruption agencies”,
“We must continue to support the NPF while also holding them accountable in the discharge of their important mandate and duty to serve and protect”.
/RULAAC
