Arase identifies improved welfare as solution to police corruption
The new Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Solomon Arase, on Wednesday in Abuja, identified improved welfare package as an effective panacea to addressing and curbing the pervasive corruption in the Nigerian Police Force.
He also said his administration would strive to engender trust between the Nigeria Police Force and the general public.
Speaking to State House Correspondents after he was sworn in by the President Muhammadu Buhari at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Arase acknowledged that corruption was a deep-seated challenge in the Nigeria Police which could only be addressed from the root, through improved welfare.
“When you tackle issues that are likely to increase their tendencies to be corrupt, you’ll deal with it.
“For instance, how are you taking care of their welfare? How are you ensuring that when they retire, they have a decent house to go to? How are you taking care of their children? Can we organise scholarship schemes for them?
“Can we ensure that when we deploy them, they have the necessary work equipment? When you respect people who work for you…even your dogs, when they see you, they will wag their tails.”
Arase also pledged improved training for policemen by ensuring that both local and international expertise at their disposal.
“That is what I want to do. That members of the public will collaborate with the police force; see them as part of the larger society,” he added.
Arase said his administration would enforce discipline in the Force, vowing that any officer who steps out of line will face the consequences.
“But at the same time, they are my colleagues and my children. So I’m going to make sure that I sharpen their skills.
“I will expect that the commission allows the IGP to exercise his operational control over the police. And that the IG himself will respect the constitutional powers of the Police Service Commission,” he said.