My Naija News - AC asks for reversal of demotions in the police, slams FG

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AC asks for reversal of demotions in the police, slams FG

Friday, 08 August 2008

The Action Congress (AC) has called on the Federal Government to order the Police Service Commission (PSC) to urgently reverse the recent demotion of 140 police officers, saying the demotions cannot be legally or morally justified.

In a statement issued in Abuja Friday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party also warned against any attempt to recall former EFCC Chairman Nuhu Ribadu from the NIPSS course in Kuru, on the basis of the argument that he is not qualified for it by virtue of his demotion to the post of Deputy Police Commissioner.

It said the FG is to blame for the police promotion mess, because of its delay in inaugurating the PSC in the first instance.

"Members of the PSC, who were nominated by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, were not inaugurated on time by the successor Yar’Adua administration. While the inauguration was pending, the promotions of the 140 officers were carried out without the input of the PSC.

The party wondered whether the reversal was the only option open to the PSC, saying the affected officers could have been kept on their new ranks long enough for their contemporaries, who apparently petitioned the PSC over the promotions, to catch up with them.

On the impact of the demotions on the affected officers, it said: "The action of the PSC is akin to blaming the passengers of a crashed bus while letting the driver and the conductor off the hook. In the first instance, these police officers did not promote themselves, they were nominated for promotion by somebody."

Reiterating the need to cancel the demotions, AC said non-reversal would have very serious consequences.

"For example, if you say those promoted should revert to their old ranks, what happens to the actions they have taken since they were promoted over a year ago? Won’t the actions also become null and void, with serious implications?" the party queried.

It also said the demotions were a huge embarrassment to Nigeria, wondering what would have happened if any of the promoted officers had been sent out on a UN assignment, for example.

"Would such an officer then be recalled? What about the impact of such recall on the image of the nation? The PSC must be told in clear terms that this is not a Banana Republic.

"And in the case of Ribadu, what happens to his course at NIPSS, now that he has gone more than half way?. Should he be recalled, it will amount to a mere punitive act, after all, he did not nominate himself for the course," AC said.

"If the PSC wants to be relevant, it should beam its search light on the officers or any of its members who allegedly collected goodies from the Police Equipment Foundation (PEF), instead of shooting the breeze. If however the PSC was coerced into demoting the officers, it should have the courage to say so," it added.

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Comments (1)

	1. Written by This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it on 08-08-2008 19:12 - Guest
	prince shame,and shame again nigerians just do not have values spitefulness,does not bring reward we as a a nation should grow-up please for the childrens sake and the people who strived to keep the nation alive

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