By Mariam Sanni
Police Service Commission, PSC, has urged senior police officers taking the ongoing promotion examination to take the exercise seriously, stressing that there will be no shortcut to success.
The commission said the examination is compulsory, with 630 Deputy Superintendents of Police, DSPs, sitting for promotion to the rank of Superintendent of Police at the Parry Osayande Auditorium, PSC Headquarters, Jabi, Abuja.
Declaring the examination open, retired Supreme Court Justice and PSC Commissioner representing the Judiciary, Justice Paul Galumje, said the commission would continue to encourage officers to seek knowledge and improve their mental capacity for effective service delivery.
The spokesperson, PSC, Ikechukwu Ani, in a statement, confirmed the continuation of the compulsory promotion exercise yesterday.
“Justice Galumje told the officers that going forward, the promotion examination will determine their future.
“Chairman of the Commission’s Standing Committee on Police Matters, DIG Taiwo Lakanu rtd, said in his introductory remarks that promotion examinations are not only timely and necessary, but would help the image of the Force.
“There is a systemic rot in the Force and that is why we are not regarded any longer. The police is the only security agency where there is no promotion examination.
“We have decided to do examination; if you fail, you fail. We will continue to do the examination, and it will help the image of the police in the eyes of the public.
“DIG Lakanu also warned the officers not to give money to any staff of the commission. We will send you away if caught bribing our staff. Please don’t embarrass us, don’t give, our staff cannot help you.
“The promotion examinations and interviews will continue next week with the commissioners cadre. The plenary meeting is expected to hold later this month.
“Chairman of the commission, DIG Hashimu Argungu, rtd, has promised that the commission will continue to ensure that promotions in the Nigeria Police Force are timely, credible, transparent and merit-based.
“DIG Argungu said promotions must be earned and justifiable, insisting that it will give credibility and respect to officers wearing new ranks.
“The police of our dreams should be one that can work with minimal supervision and deliver without undue influence,” the PSC chairman noted.
