NATIONAL SUMMIT ON POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY: PSC CHAIRMAN CALLS FOR ADEQUATE FUNDING, PUBLIC TRANSPARENCY, AND ETHICS IN POLICE INVESTIGATIONS
The Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), DIG Hashimu Argungu (Rtd.), mni, has emphasized the need for adequate funding to enhance intelligence, investigations, and prosecution activities within the Nigeria Police Force. He made this call during a panel discussion on Police Leadership and Police Accountability organized by CLEEN Foundation for civil society representatives, policymakers, academia, the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force, and international partners.
Presenting a paper titled National Summit on Police Accountability: Reviewing External, Internal, and Stakeholder Accountability Strategies and Mechanisms of the Nigeria Police Force/Service, DIG Argungu stressed that government funding must be accompanied by public accountability and transparency in the operations of investigative units.
He recommended the establishment of an internal public complaints and feedback system under the Federal Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (FCIID). He further highlighted that investigators must uphold professionalism, transparency, and accountability in their interactions with the public.
DIG Argungu also called for the strict enforcement of ethical standards for police detectives and investigators to ensure professionalism. He emphasized the need for stringent measures against police officers found guilty of human rights violations, including acts of torture, which he described as strict liability offenses under the Anti-Torture Act, 2017.
The PSC Chairman urged the Federal and State Governments to modernize the criminal justice system to align with current realities, including globalization, digitalization, and Nigeria’s unique socio-environmental context. He proposed piloting an FCT Metropolitan Police in Abuja, modeled after the Windhoek Metropolitan Police in Namibia.
Additionally, he advocated deploying certain ranks of police officers, from constables to chief superintendents, to their local communities, encouraging local involvement in crime prevention and fostering community-based policing as a sustainable solution to crime.
Ikechukwu Ani
Head, Press and Public Relations
Tuesday, December 3, 2024