By Great Imo Jonathan
First I will like to appreciate President Muhammadu Buhari for his responses so far to the ongoing #Endsars protest. Likewise the leadership of the National Assembly must be commended for their effort.
I am surprised that up till this moment the People’s Democratic Party, languishing in the realm of opposition have not found the courage to commend President Muhammadu Buhari for his exceptional handling of the #Endsars protest. President Buhari has not only responded well to all the demands made by the youths of Nigeria in this respect, he has also ensured that their rights and freedom to protest are protected. That is one of the greatest achievements of the moment. Especially, bearing in mind that it was during the PDP anti democratic regime that late Senator Chuba Okadigbo was teargased to death, one expected the PDP to take advantage of this moment to remedy its failure by commending actions so far taken by President Buhari. This should have been an opportunity for them to show some good sense of reasoning by finding the courage at least to appreciate Mr President’s effort rather than seek opportunity to play cheap politics as Governor Wike of Rivers State attempted to do yesterday.
But going forward, #Endsars protest, provides us with the opportunity to achieve tremendous progress in our match to progress.
What is happening now is a wake up call to the Nigerian police. It is a reminder that the time has come for this all important institution of government to elevate itself.
The Nigerian police has a history of performance in peace keeping operations around the world. The world is looking up to it to domicile it’s sterling performances on the international scene on the home front and we believe that it can be done. Their performance in the just concluded Edo State gubernatorial election following President Muhammadu Buhari’s determined instruction is a testament to the possibilities that lie within.
Especially, with the renewed zeal, with which President Buhari is facing the issue of police reforms, the Police Service Commission must take this opportunity to do the needful. There is the need for complete overhaul of this institution. The welfare of police officers must be made paramount. Their working environment must be such that will encourage them to perform excellently and give a sense of relaxation to those who come in contact with them.
There is the need to restructure and standardize police training colleges in Nigeria. Their curriculum should be revised to meet current realities, with a lot more emphasise on emotional intelligence and the understanding of Human Rights and the rule of law.
Follow up to that should be the provision of modern gadgets, befitting accommodation for men and officers, institutionalization of transparency and accountability by putting in places structures and frameworks to ensure that operational budgets are not hijacked by top ranking officers, thereby denying the lower ranks the resource to do their jobs.
Above all, police officers need to earn quality wages and their punishment for undermining the laws of the land must be sever in order to discourage delinquency. We must create a welfare package that encourages dedication to duty. A police officer who serves for ten years should be qualified for a house he can call his own. There should be an insurance package for them and when they retire from service their gratuities, pensions and everything associated must be paid to them without hassle.
More importantly, we should start recruiting young Nigerians only. The idea of recruiting people in their thirties and forties is counterproductive. At that age, a lot of people are already married with children and their take home pay is never enough. The salary of an average police officer can only make meaning to a young person who naturally does not have much responsibilities.
Again, it is easier for society to frame the mind of the young into what it wants it to be. Meaning that when we recruit people in their young age, we have the opportunity to mould them into what we desire. As it was in the fifties and sixties, Nigerian Arny and police used to visit secondary schools to identify capable young persons that could be recruited and trained in the force and the result was better. That we must seriously consider.
But I repeat, we must never again tolerate impunity from the police or its sister agencies. Those who aspire to join this wonderful institution must understand it’s purpose and the expected behavioural pattern when in it. Police is the real owner of society, high level of courage and patriotism is expected from those who join the institution. They must reason above board and must be fearless when dealing with high profile characters in the society, yet respectful in conduct to all citizens.
Again I am glad that Mr President has started what is expected of him and we must commend him for it.
#Endsars now, reform the police for effective service
By Great Imo Jonathan
