Police Promote 37, 000 Officers including 5, 000 Traffic Wardens; Dismiss 51 for Corruption.
***Give Scholarship to 325 children of Officers.
In a bid to address low motivation in the Nigerian Police Force occassioned by years of stagnation of officers as regards their ranks, Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase yesterday disclosed that a total of 37, 830 officers have been promoted.
The promotion of the officers came even as the IGP disclosed that following his introduction of Anti-Corruption enforcement initiatives since assumption of office, a total of 51 officers have been dismissed for proven corrupt practices while another 56 oficers have been awarded various purnishments.
Speaking at the end of year strategic security meeting he summoned in Abuja, Arase gave a breakdown of those promoted to include Private to Corporal-456; Corporal to Seargent-28, 530; Sgt to Inspector-6, 443; 5, 100 Traffic Wardens are among those promoted while about 1, 400 officers engaged in the fight against insurgency were given special promotions.
His words, “Stagnation on a rank was identified as one of the frustrating indices that engender corruption in the Nigerian Police. Among the promoted are personnel who have consistently risked their lives and courageously confronted insurgents in the North East.
Regarding the promotion of senior officers from the rank of Superintendent of Police (SP) to CSP, many of whom have spent between 9 and 11 years on a single rank, the IG said it was a policy issue and that a paper has been sent to President Muhammadu Buhari on the matter.
On new measures put in place to tackle crim, the IGP said, “We providing state of the art scene of crime vehicles which are equipped with modern technology to provide forensic support at the scenes of crime. These vehicles have been provided to police commandsin every state of the federation and are currently being utilized”.
“The launching of the Police City Watch which is an initiative where 10 BMW power bikes will be deployed to every state of the federation. The bikes will be equipped with specially trained riders and are to be used as specialist city patrol. The pilot scheme is to take off in Abuja.
“The aim is to provide fast police response to traffic gridlock, provid support to citizens in distress across the FCT and respond swiftly to any scene of threat or social disorder.
Also, the IGP yesterday awarded scholership to 325 children of deceased Police officers who lost their lives to Boko Haram insurgency and other criminal confrontations across the country.
The children who emerged succesful out of a total of 5, 509 that participated in a screening exercise, are the first beneficiaries of the scholarship scheme for primary school pupils and secondary school students.
According to the IGP, “The incorporation of the scholarship foundation is a clear demonstration of the firm determination of the force leadership to advance Mr. President’s anti-corruption stance through the engagement of innovative and enduring strategies”.
“Beyond this, the foundationwill also serve as a post-humus support scheme for children of our professional colleagues who have gallantly paid the supreme price in the service of their fatherland in the North East as well as other police operations in other parts of the country” Arase said.
END.
