PSC Trains Staff On International Human Rights

Police Service Commission (PSC) has commenced training on international human rights based policing and effective oversight for staff of the agency.
The training, which began in Abuja yesterday was organised by the International Committee of the Red Cross.

The chairman of the PSC, Dr Solomon Arase, who is a retired inspector-general of police and who declared the workshop open, said the imperativeness of the workshop cannot be over-emphasized in view of the need for the commission to optimally discharge its duty as the statutorily empowered executive body of government to oversight the police.

Arase noted that the commission cannot effectively deliver on its mandate if its staff are not properly equipped with requisite knowledge on police oversight and accountability.

Arase who was represented by his special assistant, ACP Ogbonna Nwota, said the training programme will in no small measure help in repositioning the commission towards greater efficiency and effectiveness in the discharge of its duties.

He observed that the Nigeria Police Force as the primary agency of government empowered for the maintenance of law and order in our society “in the course of performing these statutory functions has oftentimes been accused of corruption, high-handedness, biased investigation and infractions of human rights of the people.”

Spokesperson of the commission, Ikechukwu Ani further said the PSC chairman also underscored the essence of an oversight body over the Police in Nigeria as it is obtainable in other climes in line with international best practices.

Arase said, “Oversighting the police aims at ensuring transparency, effectiveness, legitimacy, responsibility and accountability of the police to the policed”.

He implored the staff to be attentive during the training and ensure “you learn, re-learn and unlearn (if need be) different issues and nuances on human rights and policing in our contemporary society.”