Obasanjo Faults Buhari's Appointment of Former IGPs as PSC Chairmen
- Nigeria's former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, has revealed why former IGPs should not be appointed as chairmen of the Police Service Commission (PSC)
- Obasanjo said appointing former IGPs to head the commission is like "asking a thief to catch a thief"
- The elder statesman recommended that civilians should be appointed as chairmen and retired police officers appointed as members of the PSC
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FCT, Abuja - Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has picked holes in the appointment of former Inspectors General of Police (IGPs) as chairmen of the Police Service Commission (PSC).
The elder statesman aired his thoughts on Thursday, February 9, when he spoke at the public presentation of a book titled Policing the Nigeria Police,’ written by a former chairman of the PSC, Chief Simon Okeke, Daily Trust reported.
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Legit.ng notes that President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed former IGPs to head the commission at least twice.
In 2018, Buhari appointed former IGP Musiliu Smith as chairman of the PSC. In January 2023, he appointed another retired IGP, Solomon Arase as substantive chairman of the PSC months after Smith's retirement.
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Why it is not good to make retired IGPs head of Police Service Commission - Obasanjo
Condemning the practice, Obasanjo said appointing retired IGPs to head the police commission cannot give the desired result.
He said civilians should be appointed as chairmen and retired police officers appointed as members of the PSC to ensure effective and efficient service delivery.
“When you make a retired police officer the head of the Police Service Commission, it is like asking a thief to catch a thief,” the former president said.
On creation of state police
Reviewing the book, Obasanjo noted that the author believed Nigeria should not have a unitary police establishment, as people have argued, because state governors would abuse it.
The former president said the author brought up a strong argument in support of state police and the training and retraining of police officers, which he agreed with.
Obasanjo accuses Buhari of making lopsided appointments
In a related development, ex-President Obasanjo accused the Buhari administration of making lopsided appointments.
He made the accusation while delivering his remarks titled, The Quest For Unity In Nigeria And The Role Of Unity Schools, at the 50th anniversary of Federal Government College, Kaduna, on Saturday, January 28.
Obasanjo said he regrets that the appointments made by the government are skewed and lopsided based on nepotism and mediocrity and show a disregard for merit and competence.
Source: Legit.ng
