The Police Service Commission (PSC) has set new boundaries for police officers, strictly prohibiting them from participating in criminal investigations and civil matters such as land, rent, and marital disputes.
PSC Chairman, retired DIG Hashimu Argungu, warned that officers found involved in these civil cases would face disciplinary actions, including suspension of their promotions. He underscored that any misconduct by police officers would reflect poorly on the commission, which would no longer tolerate any abuse of office.
Argungu highlighted the need for police officers to steer clear of civil cases and let civil courts handle such matters. This directive was shared by PSC spokesperson Ikechukwu Ani on Tuesday, following a meeting with a delegation from the Justice Research Institute led by Ade Ipaye.
Additionally, the PSC Chairman pledged to uphold a transparent, accountable, and corruption-free administration, vowing to ensure that all funds received and used by the commission are properly managed and reported.
“I will never spare thieves wherever I am. We are here to assist the government fight corruption.
“I come to work before 8am and I am the last person to leave the office, that is leadership. I have not changed and will never change; I know that leadership is everything. My mandate is not to come here to embezzle money, I must ensure transparency and openness, and I will fight to the last.”
DIG Argungu assured the visiting delegation that the PSC is committed to partnering with them on training initiatives, which will include opportunities for both local and international training for its staff.
Delegation leader Ade Ipaye expressed his satisfaction in aligning with the PSC chairman, who is determined to fight corruption, noting that transparency in government is often hard to come by. Ipaye explained that the delegation’s visit was aimed at supporting the PSC in its mission to improve the effectiveness of the police force.
He further pledged that the institute would organize training programs for PSC staff, enhancing their understanding of their role as a supervisory body over the Nigeria Police Force.
“We will ensure that the personnel of the PSC is trained, and that the staff are good enough to discharge its statutory disciplinary functions,” he said.
