The Nigeria Police has called for the constitution of the Police Pension Scheme Board to fully involve competent police officers in the running of the pension scheme, while the Board is to be administratively overseen by the Inspector-General of Police on behalf of the government.
This was part of the resolution at the just concluded 4th Conference and Retreat for Senior Police Officers held from October 30th to November 1st, 2023, at the Landmark Event Centre, Owerri, Imo State.
According to a communiqué read by the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olukayode Adeolu Egbetokun, it also recommended the exit of the Nigeria Police Force from the Contributory Pension Scheme and reverting to the amended Defined Benefit Scheme.
The conference and retreat themed Fostering Economic Prosperity, Social Integration, and Political Development through an Enhanced Internal Security Mechanism witnessed the participation of one hundred and fifty-one (151) senior police officers, including the Inspector-General of Police, eight (8) Deputy Inspectors-General of Police, thirty-seven (37) Assistant Inspector- General of Police, and one hundred and five (105) Commissioners of Police, representing various echelons within the force, including the Force Headquarters, Police Formations, Training Institutions, Zonal, and State Commands across the 36 States of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory.
Excerpt is the full text of the communiqué:
The 4th Annual Conference and Retreat of the Nigeria Police Force for Senior Police Officers was convened at the Landmark Event Centre, Owerri, Imo State, from October 30 to November 1, 2023, with the overarching theme: Fostering Economic Prosperity, Social Integration, and Political Development through an Enhanced Internal Security Mechanism.
The opening ceremony was presided over by His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, who was ably represented by the Honourable Minister of Police Affairs, Sen. (Dr.) Ibrahim Gaidam. Several distinguished guests were present. They include His Excellency, Senator Hope Uzodimma, the Governor of Imo State, as well as the Governors of Abia, Ebonyi, and Enugu States, represented by their deputies. The opening ceremony was also honoured by the presence of the President of INTERPOL and UAE Inspector General of Police, Major General Ahmed Naser Al-Raisi, who served as the Keynote Speaker; the UAE Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency, Salem Saeed Al-Shamsi; the Honourable Minister of State for Police Affairs, Hon. Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim; the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Police Affairs, Senator (Ambassador) Ahmed Abdulhamid Madori; and the Vice Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Police Affairs, Hon. Adewale Waheed Hammed.
Other notable attendees included the National Security Adviser, represented by Major General A. M. Dikko (Rtd); the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher G. Musa; the Representative of the Chief of Defence Intelligence, Commodore M. A. Manga; and the representative of the Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Barr. Onyemauche Nnamani.
The event witnessed the participation of one hundred and fifty-one (151) Senior Police Officers, including the Inspector-General of Police, eight (8) Deputy Inspectors-General of Police, thirty-seven (37) Assistant Inspectors-General of Police, and one hundred and five (105) Commissioners of Police, representing various echelons within the Force, including the Force Headquarters, Police Formations, Training Institutions, Zonal, and State Commands across the 36 States of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory.
Presentations were made by invited resource persons as follows:
Prof. Etannibi Alemika, Dean of the Faculty and Conference Director
CP Ifeanyi Uche Henry: The Nigeria Police Force and the Emerging Cybercrime Trend in the New World: The Role of NPF-NCCC
Wale Olaoye: Optimising New Technologies for Nigeria’s Policing Systems and Operations
Dr Monday Michaels Ashibogwu: Strategic Communication and Social Media Skills for Senior Police Officers
Ross Alabo-George: Understanding the Dynamics of Nigeria’s Security Environment and Their Implications for National Development
Dr Lanre Olusegun Ikuteyijo: Implementing Community Policing as a Security Strategy in Nigeria
Mr. Peter Mancha: Developing a Gender-Responsive Strategy and Implementation Mechanism in the Nigeria Police Force
The participants made substantive contributions during the lecture and discussion sessions.
RESOLUTIONS:
(a) Acknowledgement of the President’s commitment to supporting security agencies and critical stakeholders in providing a secure and safe civil space to facilitate economic growth and development.
(b) Identification of cyber-related crimes as the prevailing trend in the country, emphasising the necessity of high-tech tools, such as artificial intelligence and robotics, to combat these crimes effectively.
(c) Encouragement for the Nigeria Police Force to expand its use of enhanced technology tools, including the expansion of the NPF National Cybercrime Centre to FCID Annexes and State Commands’ CIDs across the country.
(d) Emphasised the significance of personnel remuneration and training in enabling the Force to carry out its duties effectively and efficiently.
(e) The need to educate officers at all levels about social media tools and skills to enhance strategic communications and engagement with the nation’s youth.
(f) Call for special funding of the Nigeria Police Force by the Federal and State Governments and private and corporate bodies, with the National Assembly urged to facilitate a bill to review the existing
Police Trust Fund for adequacy and reasonable use.
(g) recognition of the importance of collaboration among security agencies and the appeal for continued professionalism and cooperation.
(h) Encouragement for the Federal Government to support and equip the Nigeria Police Force to enhance operational capabilities
(i) acknowledgement of the increasing role of the Nigeria Police Force in INTERPOL affairs, urging its sustained involvement.
(j) Recommendation to consider including heads of security agencies, particularly the Inspector-General of Police, in the National Economic Council to integrate security perspectives into the nation’s strategic economic policies.
(k) Appreciation of the Inspector-General of Police’s leadership in advancing community policing and the call for special funding to implement this strategy.
(l) recognised the need and effort to mainstream gender equality in the affairs of the Nigeria Police Force.
(m) The IGP’s Special Committee, under the leadership of the Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Department of Finance and Administration, to conclude the review of the draft Harmonised
Condition of Service for the Nigeria Police Force by the end of the fourth quarter of 2023
(n) Acquisition of an electronic case management system to ensure digitization of all case files and other legacy documents at the Force Criminal Investigations Department for posterity and enduring institutional memory is sacrosanct.
(o) The Federal Government of Nigeria to provide adequate funding for the training of police personnel to improve their capacity for effective crime prevention, enhanced public safety, and quality service delivery to Nigerians.
(p) Collaboration of the Nigeria Police Force with the Police Service Commission to ensure resuscitation of Development, Refresher, and Promotion Courses for the Inspectorate and Rank/File cadres
(q) The Police Pension Scheme Board should be constituted in such a way as to fully involve competent police officers in the running of the pension scheme, while the Board is to be administratively overseen by the Inspector-General of Police on behalf of the government.
(r) Recommendation of the exit of the Nigeria Police Force from the Contributory Pension Scheme and revert to the amended Defined Benefit Scheme
(s) It is sacrosanct that the Nigeria Police Force set in place a technology and digital transformation strategy document.
(t) It is also imperative for the Nigeria Police Force to set up a cybersecurity management strategy document.
(u) Expressions of appreciation for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Executive Governor of Imo State, Sen. Hope Uzodimma, and the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force for their commitment to the reform project and the security of the nation.
The 4th Conference and Retreat for Senior Police Officers was concluded on November 1, 2023, marking a significant milestone in our collective effort to enhance internal security and contribute to the nation’s development.
