Police officers grumble over promotions

This is in spite of Parry Osayande, chairman, Police Service Commission (PSC), promising due proces in the promotion, discipline and recruitment of police officers.

Police officers would be treated with just, equity and fair play in line with President Umaru Yar’Adua’s agenda, Osayande said.

But some of the officers said in Abuja that the promotions did not follow set criteria as some were promoted above their mates.

A document obtained by NAN showed that while some officers were promoted based on seniority, others were actually promoted above their mates.

Others were promoted to the same rank with their seniors.

The document showed that 37 officers among those due for promotion to Assistant Commissioners of Police (ACPs) were promoted based on seniority on acting capacities, leaving out many on the same rank.

The promotions are pending the confirmation by the Police Service Commission (PSC), which is responsible for the promotion, discipline and retirement of senior police officers.

The document showed that officers numbers 43 to 61 on the list were not promoted. However, officer number 62 with Force number AP20464 was promoted to Acting ACP.

It also showed that 92 others were skipped while officer number 155 on the list with force number AP36552 was promoted, four others were jumped and officer number 160 on the list with force number AP36658 was promoted.

The list also showed that officers numbers 161 to 306 on the seniority list were not promoted.

But officer number 307 with force number AP16136 was promoted ACP along with his seniors and above his mates whose last promotion was in 2001.

Officer number 454 on the list with force number AP36575 was promoted after 77 other CSPs were jumped and another officer with number 509 on the list was promoted after 53 of his promotion mates were skipped. It also showed that officers from numbers 510 to 661 on the list were also sidelined as officer number 662 with force number AP16219 was promoted.

Twenty four others from numbers 663 to 755 were also skipped while number 756 with force number AP16328 was promoted.

The list showed that only CSP no. 756 was promoted to ACP out of the 68 others whose last promotions were on August 8, 2006, catching up with those who were last promoted in 2000, 2001, 2003 and 2005.

Some of the skipped officers, who pleaded for anonymity, said that they were not happy with the promotions alleging that due process was not followed.

"Some of those promoted who were two to three years junior to us are now on the same rank with us.

This kind of thing kills officers’ morale,’’ an officer said.

Another officer said this type of abnormality started during the tenure of former I-G, Sunday Ehindero, when he promoted the former EFCC Chairman, Malam Nuhu Ribadau and others far above their course mates.

"Ribadu is now an AIG while most of his mates are now ACs. Such action breeds hatred among officers,’’ he said

A Commissioner of Police, who was senior to Ribadu before his promotion to AIG, said most of them would not be answerable to people like Ribadu as they were his seniors at the Police Academy.

"This can never happen in the military. Their system is that nobody should be promoted above his mates and no junior should meet his senior on a rank.

"Once you fail your promotion examination you know the next step," he said.

One of the affected officers said no reason was given for skipping them and promoting their mates and juniors above them.

Some of the officers called on the PSC to correct what they called ‘abnormality’ by cancelling the list

forwarded to it for confirmation by police high command.

But when contacted, the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Agberebi Akpoebi, said Okiro was known for transparency and accountability, assuring police officers that the promotion was transparent.

"No officer should entertain any fear of being skipped in promotion,’’ the FPRO said.

Akpoebi said those not promoted were either having pending disciplinary cases or do not merit promotion.

"Those grumbling might either be having pending disciplinary cases or do not have the high grades

required for promotion of senior officers,’’ he said. (NAN)