That the Nigeria Police Force has a wide gap to fill towards professionalism is not debatable. We are confronted with this reality every day.

The NPF, given the number of its personnel, only about 350,000 in a country of about 200 million, and the obvious dearth in equipment and technology, is no doubt hampered in efficiency and it can be argued are doing well given the circumstances. Yet, policing is not about making do with apologies of situation but the ideal. This is because this is where our civil lives lie. This is where our dignity of persons can be violated with ease, given that police operate within the civic space. Getting policing right is therefore very important and almost a non-negotiable factor. Which is why the daily tales of bribery, extortion, extra judicial killings etc. matters as per effective policing and oversight.

In the light of this, it is crucial to understand what factors gave rise to the need for external oversight of the police. Why external and often, civilian populated oversight bodies? How did this arrangement come about?

There are many examples of police excesses in the absence of effective oversight for instance, the civil right and anti-war demonstrations in the United States of the 60s and 70s; the miners’ strikes of 1984 to 85 in the United Kingdom; the brutal style of police handling of students protests which led to the killings at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in 1986; and more recently, the death in police custody of a black American, George Floyd, which has raised a global uproar. These instances are legion.

All of these incidents bred distrust in citizens and led to wider questions about whether the police as an institution should be trusted to keep its house in order and bring its erring members to justice. This eventually brought about the establishment of civilian review boards to review and/or investigate citizens’ complaints against the police beginning with the Civilian Complaints Review Board in New York, which was established in 1953.

This is the root of civilian oversight bodies including the Police Service Commission.

In Nigeria, the PSC is the primary body specifically assigned this responsibility in the Constitution. Paragraph 30, Third Schedule of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended states as follows:

1. The Commission shall have power to –
   (a) appoint persons to offices (other than office of the Inspector-General of Police) in the Nigeria Police Force; and
   (b) dismiss and exercise disciplinary control over persons holding any office referred to in sub-paragraph (a) of this paragraph.

Some have erroneously argued that the Nigeria Police Council, headed by the President has the same powers with the PSC. The constitution however states that:

1. The functions of the Nigeria Police Council shall include –
   (a) the organization and administration of the Nigeria Police Force and all other matters relating thereto (not being matters relating to the use and operational control of the Force or the appointment, disciplinary control and dismissal of members of the Force).

The Constitution was therefore careful to preserve the primary functions of the PSC in terms of especially appointment, promotion, and discipline of the Police as the exclusive preserve of the oversight body. The powers of the PSC, by Nigeria’s laws, is therefore not only supreme, but totally independent.

If Nigeria has the Police Service Commission to oversight the police, why are we still being forced to endure a police force that is sub-par? The answer to the above question is complex, yet simple. The Police Service Commission is, probably owing to its late introduction in our policing process, yet to be accorded the space and enablement it needs to be fully activated.

I will treat some of these fache PSC has no functional officesacross the country except in Abuja. So, a complaint from a Nigerian in either Zamfara, Osun, Calabar or Borno, must be taken to Abuja. How many Nigerians can really afford this? When discussing oversight and good governance, therefore, the first step is to take the PSC to the states and zones. We must operationalize the PSC at state and zonal offices. This will enhance the role of the PSC by bringing it closer to the people. It is commendable that the National Human Rights Commission and the Inspector General are making themselves available to fill this huge void. Yet their efforts have limitations, as only the PSC can discipline or dismiss police officers as stipulated by Nigeria’s constitution. The PSC has mercifully delegated this power to the IG with regard to junior officers (rank and file). Yet we must note that the IG sends his recommendations to the PSC for most disciplinary actions which takes a toll on time and resources. The PSC is the one stop station for treating complaints. One must commend the Musiliu Smith-led Board for giving the need for Zonal and State offices the visibility it deserves.

The seeming lack of harmonious PSC/NPF relationship cannot be over emphasised in the undermining of citizen-driven policing. The PSC is made up of Representatives of different sectors of the civil space viz the Private Sector, Media, Human Rights, Women, Judiciary and the Police representatives. This is a representation of practically all arms of the citizenry to drive reforms within the police. Lack of cooperation by police leadership with this all-inclusive citizen representative body can undermine the effectiveness of oversight. Responsive police leadership will implement recommendations for reform. Though there have been efforts at periodic meetings between the leadership of the PSC and the NPF, these efforts tapered off and need to be resuscitated to help in building cooperation and partnership between the two in the discharge of PSC duties.

The PSC has, owing to budgetary challenges over the years, been slow in engaging citizens groups in accountability forums. This is essential for building trust in the ability and capacity of the PSC to treat their complaints and also enable them to advocate for the PSC if need be. It should however be noted that the present Commission under the Chairmanship of Musiliu Smith IGP (retd) has carried out at least two citizens-accountable fora. More of this is required and efforts at taking this across the country should be in place, resources permitting.

Limited resources for the PSC have resulted in lack of the needed robust and effective oversight for good governance. It is important to note the aid of President Muhammadu Buhari in ensuring that in a few months the PSC may move to its permanent offices. There is no gainsaying that well-resourced oversight agencies have a greater chance of meeting their objectives. The PSC as of today could certainly do with more resources.

If Nigeria truly desires a police force of our dreams, which functions optimally and professionally, we must start with the PSC, the oversight body. A nation’s Police and policing mirrors how effective the oversight body is. A weak oversight machinery births a dislocated and anti-citizen police. The truth is that policing in a civic space with guns and ammunition can easily lead to abuse of power against innocent and vulnerable person with no guns to fight back.

The above more than any other argument, makes the recent moves by the national Assembly of transferring the PSC powers to the office of the Inspector General imprudent. The police in a civic space should not and cannot be made to oversight itself. This has not worked. It brings about the “we versus them” mentality between the police and citizens. The PSC, which comprises a variety of citizens groups, is best suited for this and it is against this thinking that the law made it so.

The police are an interesting and very significant security apparatus. They carry arms, are meant to maintain law and order, protect the citizens etc. in a civic space and context. This is why policing in the world of today is moving towards citizen-centered policing. It goes against the grain of standard practice for the police to recruit themselves, promote themselves, train themselves, and discipline themselves.

The PSC should therefore be allowed to continue its constitutional powers of recruitment, promotion, discipline and treat complaints from Nigerians including sanctions. It should further be empowered and made more efficient and effective for the implementation of its mandate towards good governance.

The legislators should rather rise to the task of enough resourcing and allocation in this regard.

Mom is the Commissioner, Human Rights, Police Service Commission, Abuja, Nigeria. He can be reached at [email protected]. Twitter: @Rommymom1.