Hashimu Argungu

By Kingsley Omonobi

Chairman of Police Service Commission, PSC, DIG Hashimu Argungu, retd, said yesterday the commission would no longer be a rubber stamp for irregular means of promotion in Nigeria Police Force.

He declared that merit, based on passing of prescribed examinations and other basic requirements, would now count for the promotion of officers and men of the force.

Argungu noted there was no such thing as special promotion anywhere in the world, stressing that the commission under his watch would not encourage it.

The PSC chairman, who spoke when he received a delegation of members of the executive of the Association of Retired Police Officers of Nigeria, emphasized that special promotion was, henceforth, abolished in the force.

He said: “The law, however, allows for accelerated promotion for officers who have shown uncommon dexterity in the discharge of their duties but this will be done with care so as not to abuse it.

“Promotion will now be on merit and there will be written examination and interview. Seniority is now irrelevant in modern day policing since any officer who fails promotion examination will remain on the same rank and if he fails three times, he will be retired at that level for incompetence.”

Reiterating that the commission would no longer promote officers who could not pass prescribed written examinations, Argungu called for the support of retired police officers, adding that their experience while in service, would be valuable in this new direction.

The PSC boss said he was proud of the Nigeria Police Force which he served and retired as a Deputy Inspector General and would not at any point disappoint it.

“A policeman is like Ceasers’ wife and should be above suspicion, it is country first. If I die and have to come back, I will still want to be a policeman.”