The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has begun the collation of names of its junior officers who graduated with Bachelor of Science (BSc.) or Higher National Diploma (HND).
In a police wireless message dated 29/09/2023, from the Force headquarters, Admin and Welfare, Abuja, heads of all commands were directed to, as a matter of urgency, forward a comprehensive list of all Inspectors, as well as rank & files serving under them with BSc. or HND certificates.
The wireless message marked, 4001/WEL/FHQ/ABJ/VOL.10/48, also requested the Commissioners of Police to forward a list of lawyers in the junior rank to the force headquarters.
The usually encrypted police signal was decoded thus: “Ingenpol directs as a matter of urgency, that you forward a comprehensive list of all Inspectors and rank & file serving under you, who are graduates of BSC/HND and lawyers.”
The list is requested to be under the following headings: Serial No, AP/F number, rank, name, gender, date of birth, date of enlistment, date of last promotion, institution attended, discipline, date graduated, date of Call to Bar (for Lawyers), phone number, E-mail and others.
The office of the Inspector-General’s Secretary emphasised that the list must be submitted on or before October 6, 2023, without a compelling reminder.
The police commissioners were directed to treat the message as urgent, urging them to ensure no omission.
Our correspondent gathered that the NPF is planning to promote the graduates in the force to the senior rank of the Superintendent of Police cadre.
In June, the Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Dr Solomon Arase, had said junior policemen with law degrees or other qualifications in other disciplines would soon be considered for elevation in due course.
“The commission may decide to send these categories of police lawyers and other junior policemen with additional qualifications on short-service training, after which they would be properly placed as officers,” Arase was quoted as having said during a meeting with lawyers June.
