TENSION is heightening between the 27 promoted policemen and their seniors at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.
This is coming a few weeks after the dust stirred up by the grumbling among some Commissioners of Police and Assistant Inspectors-General over the promotion of some commissioners to AIGs and Deputy IGs.
Also, some commissioners and AIGs are said to be on their way out of the force after they have allegedly received a purported letter disengaging them from service. Those, who spoke to THE PUNCH, said they had not received any retirement letter from the Police Service Commission, adding that they were waiting to hear from the commission about their future.
The Acting Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, last week promoted seven Assistant Superintendents, 11 superintendents, five Chief Superintendents and four Assistant Commissioners.
However, the promotion has sparked protests in the police as the elevated officers were alleged to be close to the IG and their promotion seen as irregular because they did not attend the mandatory courses that should have prepared them for their new ranks as stipulated by the police reform programme.
Sources told our correspondent that Abubakar promoted the officers, allegedly based on their loyalty to him, adding that some of the lucky policemen were brought to Abuja from Lagos and other states by the acting IG and promoted to their current ranks.
A source said, “According to the police reforms programme being implemented by the Police Service Commission, no officer can be promoted unless he has gone for a course, but none of the 27 promoted officers had attended any course.
“The promotion is causing serious disaffection among the staff of the force headquarters because it is obvious that the acting IG promoted his boys as a reward for their loyalty.”
It was learnt that the PSC is in a fix over the recent appointment of seven DIGs and 13 AIGs as the development has polarised the police and caused general disillusionment in the force.
Commenting on the development in the police, a retired IG, Mr. Mike Okiro, said the recent promotions might have been informed by the performance of the elevated officers.
He said the commission was in the best position to explain why it promoted many junior officers above their seniors.
Okiro said, “I remember that I enjoyed the same privilege when I was in the force. I was promoted from Commissioner of Police to DIG over and above many of my seniors in the force. the promotion then was based on performance and not rank.”
When contacted, the Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Olusola Amore, said he was not aware of any discontent among the FHQRs staff.
via Punch
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