The Police Service Commission (PSC) has given its approval to new policy guidelines concerning the deployment of management and tactical commanders within the Nigeria Police Force.
The commission emphasized the need for gender sensitivity in the deployment of Assistant Inspectors-General of Police and Commissioners of Police to zonal and state command headquarters.
During its 21st plenary held at the Corporate Headquarters in Jabi, Abuja on June 15, 2023, the commission, chaired by Dr Solomon Arase, considered and endorsed the policy guidelines. The PSC has urged the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to adhere to the principle of federal character in recruitment and deployment at all levels to ensure fairness, equity, and balance within the system.
According to the PSC spokesperson, Ikechukwu Ani, the current deployment of Commissioners of Police to state commands does not adequately reflect the principles of equity and fairness across the country’s geopolitical zones.
The commission observed a disproportionate and imbalanced distribution of command commissioners, particularly impacting the North-East and South-East regions. To address this issue, the PSC has directed that proposals for the deployment of Commissioners of Police must prioritize the disadvantaged zones, aiming to rectify the existing imbalance.
The PSC has also advised the Inspector General of Police to adhere to the newly approved policy guidelines, which are rooted in principles of justice and fairness for all members of the Nigeria Police Force.
In addition, the PSC emphasized the importance of gender sensitivity in the deployment of Assistant Inspectors-General of Police and Commissioners of Police. The commission highlighted the need to avoid lopsided deployments that exclude qualified female police officers from holding key positions.
Going forward, the PSC has stipulated that at least three state commands out of the 37 should have female Commissioners of Police, and at least one zone out of the 17 zonal headquarters should have a female Assistant Inspector-General to lead the zone.
During the plenary, the commission also approved the appointment of two Deputy Inspectors General of Police and the promotion of 14 Commissioners of Police to the rank of Assistant Inspectors-General of Police.
This includes the promotion of CP Adebowale Williams, who previously served as the Commissioner of Police for Oyo State command. Additionally, 22 Deputy Commissioners of Police were promoted to the rank of substantive Commissioners of Police, including Enyinnaya Adiogu, formerly the DCP Deputy at the Special Fraud Unit in Ikoyi, Lagos.
