HURIDE calls for decentralization of PSC for effectiveness, efficiency

By Florence Kalu

Human Rights, Liberty Access and Peace Defenders’ Foundation (HURIDE), has called for the immediate decentralization of the Police Service Commission (PSC) in the country.

The decentralization, HURIDE, said in a press conference held in Awka, Anambra State capital will bring the police controlling body closer to officers to ensure their effective monitoring and discipline.

In the conference, which was addressed by the Executive Director and Board of Trustees (BoT) of HURIDE, Chief Dede Uzor A Uzor, the group argued that decentralization will also bring the body closer to the people for ease lodging of complaints against erring Police officers.

The rights body said that decentralization should go down to the six geo-political zones and States, stressing that this will even create job opportunities for youths and professionals in the country.

The group wondered how can less than 400 staff of PSC in Abuja monitor over 400, 000 Police officers scattered all over the nooks and crannies of the country.

” That is to say 100 staff to 100, 000 Police officers. It is too unwieldy and cannot achieve any serious result” they said.

The rights group also argued that with decentralization it will be easier for Nigerians to report the negative activities of Police officers, saying that #End SARs protest was as a result of failure of monitoring the activities of Police by relevant agencies and authorities.

Dede Uzor said, ” PSC as is presently constituted is not doing enough because they don’t have the reach and manpower to achieve something tangible.

“President Muhammadu Buhari should carry out the decentralization immediately. How can 100 persons attend to 100, 000 persons. Decentralization of PSC should be part of Police reforms ,so that they can monitor and discipline erring officers and promote those who are due.

“We demanded that the present practice of appointing a retired Inspector-General of Police (IG) or Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG) should be discarded, rather competent and credible Nigerians who have distinguished themselves in their career should be made to head PSC.

“The glorious days of PSC remained the period of Chief Simon Okeke as chairman, during Olusegun Obasanjo administration and Chief Mike Okiro Mbam during the Goodluck Ebere Jonathan, ” he noted.