FG to police officers: Speak out, get dismissed •1,944 policemen promoted

HENCEFORTH, senior police officers (whether serving or at the verge of retirement) who publicly make comments on policies of the federal government may face serious sanctions. A circular to that effect has been sent to the Inspector-General of Police, M. D. Abubakar.
The police high command has in turn sent out a signal to all police zones and commands. The signal went out on Thursday, Saturday Tribune authoritatively gathered.
This may not be unconnected with comments made by the erstwhile Plateau State Police Commissioner, Dipo Ayeni, during his pull-out parade and the controversy that trailed them.
In his farewell speech on the 10th of December, 2012 in Jos, Ayeni had criticised the federal government and the police authorities of being incapable of running the police force – comments the federal government considered inciting to other officers and contrary to civil service rule.
The Force Secretary, Assistant Inspector-General Azunmi Doma, had on December 16 issued the retired CP a query, through the AIG Zone 4 Makurdi, Mike Zuokumor, for embarrassing the government and police through his unguarded utterances.
But Ayeni told the Saturday Tribune in Jos that as at last Monday he had not yet been served with the query. A civil society coalition in Plateau State, led by Gad Shamaki, has also threatened to mobilise in Ayeni’s defence when he eventually receives the query.
In another development, the Inspector-General has approved the promotion of 1,944 junior police officers, within the rank of Constable and Sergeant, to their next ranks, in an exercise that has been dubbed ‘New Year gift’ to members of the police rank and file.
The promotion takes effect from January 1, 2013.
In line with ongoing reforms of the Nigeria Police, all the beneficiaries of the promotion exercise had earlier attended and passed a special promotion course organised for them at the four police colleges located in Lagos, Orji-River, Kaduna and Maiduguri.
The trainings were designed to prepare the personnel for the challenges and responsibilities of their new ranks.
While congratulating the newly promoted officers, the IGP charged them to see their elevation as a call to greater challenges, as they would be saddled with higher responsibilities.
He urged them to be more dutiful, disciplined, courageous and patriotic in the discharge of their responsibilities.
The 1,944 beneficiaries of the promotion are spread across all police commands and formations within the country, including the Force Headquarters, Abuja.