By Adewole Kehinde
“Great leaders are decisive, courageous, and willing to take bold action. Great leaders never seem outwardly uncertain or indecisive but display complete confidence, especially in times of adversity” – Pat Williams, Vince Lombardi
On Friday, the Indefatigable Inspector-General of Police, IGP. Kayode Egbetokun issued a stern warning to unscrupulous officers who have been attempting to undermine the Nigerian police merit-based promotion system for personal gain.
The IGP urged them to cease lobbying for special promotions through influential persons and external forces. I have seen many of those the IGP is referring to use mostly National Assembly members and top business tycoons to lobby for special promotions.
I was discussing the issues with some officers at the Force Headquarters this morning, and when I saw the speech of the IGP, I said to myself, “I am in the spirit with the IGP!”!
To me, it is those who don’t have confidence in themselves and have a skeleton in their cupboard that normally lobbies for special promotions.
Merit-based special promotion should be a form of promotion where an officer is rewarded and advanced within the Force based on their performance, skills, achievements, and contributions rather than just on seniority.
This type of promotion recognises and acknowledges the personnel’s hard work, dedication, and excellence in their duties, making it a fair and motivating way to encourage personnel to strive for continued success.
Special promotions should strictly be granted for acts of bravery, exceptional service, or for officers who have demonstrated outstanding dedication to their duties.
I strongly support the IGP that from now on, severe disciplinary action will be taken against any officer found guilty of soliciting underserved promotions through illicit means, masquerading as special promotions.
I am also happy it will also be applied to officers soliciting preferential postings.
It is on record that since the assumption of office, IGP Egbetokun has been committed to the standardisation of the promotion process within the Force.
The IGP has never stopped emphasising that special promotion in the Nigeria Police Force should be based on a combination of factors such as merit, experience, training, performance evaluations, specialised skills, leadership qualities, and potential for higher responsibilities.
It is important to have a transparent and fair promotion process that rewards officers who demonstrate dedication, integrity, professionalism, and commitment to their duties.
Also, continuous assessment and training should be key considerations for special promotions within the police force to ensure that officers are up-to-date with the latest techniques and best practices in law enforcement.
I want to use this opportunity to congratulate the Chairman of the Police Service Commission, DIG Hashimu Argungu (Rtd), as he works closely with the Inspector General of Police to ensure timely attention in processing and approving further promotion lists from the Police Management team.
Adewole Kehinde is the publisher of Swift Reporters and can be reached at 08166240846, email: kennyadewole@gmail.com
