The South West Youth Alliance has addressed the concerns of some aggrieved officers who claim they are being overlooked for promotion due to their absence from the Police Academy (POLAC).
Responding to a publication in Sahara Reporters titled, “Years of Service Still Overlooked’: Nigerian Police Officers Protest Preferential Treatment for POLAC Graduates,” the Publicity Director of the Alliance, Adenike Ajanlekoko, stated that the aggrieved officers should be familiar with the Public Service Rules regarding continuing education while in service.
“In the Nigerian public service, continuous education and training are essential for employee development and promotion. The Public Service Rules delineate the requirements for advancement, which include specific criteria for promotion based on performance evaluations, interviews, and seniority, Ajanlekoko stated.
She further stated that it is not true that the children of ordinary citizens continue to face oppression within the system.
“Under Nigerian Public Service Rules, public servants are generally required to inform their employers about any further education they are pursuing. This notification is a standard procedure that ensures transparency and allows the employer to potentially support the employee’s educational goals through various means, such as leave or financial assistance.
“The majority of the aggrieved officers who claimed to have completed their higher education did so while serving in the Nigeria Police without informing their employer. How can such certificates be presented for career advancement?
“What the aggrieved officers should be advocating for is the amendment of the relevant sections of the Nigerian Public Service Rules, instead of blaming the police authority, which is adhering to the established regulations.
The alliance further debunked the claim that “POLAC, however, offers free education, and admission is often reserved for the privileged children of the wealthy. “POLAC is not exclusively for the privileged children of the wealthy; it is open to all Nigerians who meet the qualifications to attend the Academy”.
“No individual police officer is being penalised for being an ordinary Nigerian or for joining as a rank-and-file under IGP Egbetokun. The Police Service Commission has consistently considered graduates from these institutions for promotion or advancement. However, in accordance with the Nigerian Public Service Rules, which state that ‘Public servants are generally required to notify their employers of any further education they are pursuing,’ the statement concluded.
