Akinwande Soji-Ojo
President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed a former Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Solomon Arase, as the Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC).
The appointment is subject to the confirmation of the senate.
In a letter read at plenary on Tuesday by the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, Buhari based his request on Sections 153 (1) and 154 (1) of the 1999 Constitution as amended.
If confirmed, Arase will succeed Musiliu Smith, also a former IGP. Smith resigned under controversial circumstances in 2022.
Clara Ogunbiyi, a retired judge of the Supreme Court, stepped into the office in acting capacity after the resignation of Smith.
Arase was appointed IGP in 2015 by former President Goodluck Jonathan.
Before his appointment as IGP, Arase was head of the topmost intelligence gathering unit of the police, the Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Bureau.
Born on June 21, 1956, in Owan West Local Government, Edo State, he attended Ahmadu Bello University for his undergraduate studies and graduated with political science degree in 1980.
He was recruited into the Nigerian Police a year after on December 1, 1981. He also obtained another bachelor’s degree in Law from University of Benin as well as master’s degree from University of Lagos.
While in service, Arase served in various capacities including being Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State as well as serving intelligence gathering unit as Assistant Inspector General. He is a Fellow of the Nigerian Defence Academy and had served in Namibia during the United Nations peacekeeping operation.
PSC asks IGP, others to proceed on retirement
Meanwhile, the Police Service Commission (PSC) has ordered all police officers who are due for retirement to proceed immediately without further delay, saying “there is an institutional succession plan in the Nigeria Police.”
The commission, in a statement by its Head, Press and Public Relations, Ikechukwu Ani, on Tuesday, maintained that there can never be any leadership vacuum in the force if anybody retires.
It insisted that it is the statutory government executive body with the constitutional mandate to recruit, promote, dismiss and exercise disciplinary control over persons holding offices in the force, except the Inspector General of Police.
Ani said that the decision was taken after an emergency meeting held by the management of the commission with a view to resolving thw ongoing brouhaha on the tenure elongation for the IGP, Usman Alkali.
“The commission took a decision that it will not extend the tenures of the retiring senior police officers,” Ani said.
The commission had in a statement on Monday denied endorsing the tenure elongation of the IGP, who attains the retirement age of 60 years in March, 2023.
The commission promised to abide by the law of the land, adding that it would not at any time support or encourage any attempt to subvert it.
