Senior police officers recently promoted by the Police Service Commission (PSC), were yesterday given a mandate to revamp the image of the police and restore the confidence the public reposed in the institution.
The acting inspector-general of police, Muhammad Abubakar, gave the charge when he decorated the officers with their new ranks and assigned postings to them. The IG stressed that the onus was on the officers to prove that they actually merited the promotion.
The Police Service Commission had last week announced the promotion of seven deputy inspectors general of police (DIGs) and 14 assistant inspectors general of police (AIGs), in an exercise where some junior commissioners of police (CPs) were promoted to the ranks of DIG and AIGs.
The announcement had caused some protest among some officers who felt shortchanged. The officers in a swift reaction petitioned the National Assembly and asked the president not to approve the promotion. But the PSC reacted to the protest by saying that the disgruntled officers fell short of the requirements for promotion.
Meanwhile, the DIGs have been given immediate portfolios.
They are Sulaiman Dauda Fakai, second in command to the IG; Marvel Akpoyibo is in charge of Administration and Finance, Haruna John, ‘B’ Operations, Emmanuel Udeoji, ‘Ç’ Works and Logistics, Peter Issa Gana, ‘D’ Investigation and Intelligence, Abdulrahman Akano, É’ Training, and Atiku Yusuf Kafur, ‘F’ Management Services, Research and Planning.
The decoration, which was done amidst tight security, also saw the IG promising to enthrone merit and support for the officers to perform maximally.
All major roads leading to the force headquarters, venue of the decoration, were blocked, while vehicular and pedestrian movement were well scrutinised before people were allowed into the venue.
Abubakar, while addressing the top officers on professionalism, promised to reward hard work and celebrate exemplary conduct and achievements.