The Chairman, Police Service Commission (PSC), Dr. Solomon Arase has solicited the support of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) to promote a harmonious working relationship between the commission and the media.
At an interactive session with the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, (NUJ) in Abuja on Friday, Arase said the commission’s mandate includes the appointment, promotion, and discipline of all police officers except the Inspector-General of Police.
According to him, we are committed to collaborating with the media to ensure a proper working relationship with the commission and by extension the police force.
He said that he had also held similar stakeholder meetings with relevant bodies to ensure a seamless working relationship with the commission.
Arase said that the commission had agreed that there was need for synergy between PSC, the police, and the media to ensure a properly motivated friendly working atmosphere.
He said there would be constant training between police and the media for interface to ensure a proper working relationship for the good of the country.
He said they were ready to change the negative narratives about the frosty relationship that had existed between the commission and the public, adding that the commission had been very silent in recent times.
He said that the commission had noticed that the faulty recruitment process of the Police was responsible for some of the misconduct of personnel in Nigeria.
Arase also said that the commission aimed to continue its pally with relevant stakeholders to seek ways of improving policing in Nigeria.
“If you are going to police the system very well, you need the cooperation of the public”, Arase said.
He stressed that there must be zero tolerance for misconduct by personnel and that punitive measures had been put in place to discourage wrongdoings.
He noted that some Police personnel have had to go because of their bad behavior.
NUJ President, Comrade Chris Isiguzo congratulated the Arase on his appointment, adding that the union would work with the commission to ensure success.
“What you’ve done today is clearly in your character. During your time as Inspector-General of Police, you carried the media along and this afternoon, you have re-emphasized your love for the media.
“We will give you all the support needed to succeed. One of the things we must take out of this meeting is a commitment to the training and retraining of police personnel”, Isiguzo said.
He said that there was a need to create a platform for police and journalists to interface and get to know each other as both were doing the same job for the betterment of the country.
He appealed to the government through the PSC Chairman not to deprive the media of its representation as according to him, there are rumors that plans are underway to remove the media representative from the commission.
The two leaders agreed to work together for the good of the Police, the media, and the nation at large.
