Sequel to the appointment of a new Board for the Police Service Commission (PSC) by the federal government,the Civil Society Network Against Corruption (CSNAC), has urged the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha, to direct the chairman of the dissolved board, Mr. Mike Okiro, to hand over to the relevant officer deemed fit to act in that capacity.
In a petition sent to the office of the SGF and signed by CSNAC chairman, Mr. Olanrewaju Suraju, the group said the continuous stay of Okiro as PSC chairman is a contemptuous disregard of the directive of President Muhammadu Buhari.
According to CSNAC, after the 29th Dec. 2017 dissolution of the PSC Board, Okiro is still functioning as its chairman, adding that in an internal memo dated 5th January, 2018 from Mr. Okiro in his purported position as Chairman, directed the Permanent Secretary of the Commission to report an action to him in 7 days, among several others instructions.
The petition reads: “It is with grave concern that the Civil Society Network Against Corruption (CSNAC) view the contemptuous disregard of the directive of President Muhammadu Buhari as conveyed by your office on the 29th Dec.2017, dissolving the board of Police Service Commission (PSC) among others, headed by retired Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mike Okiro, by his continued stay in office and performing functions of the office despite the composition of a new board.
“The Police Service Commission is one of the Federal Executive bodies established by Section 153 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) with enormous powers which include: Appointment, Promotion and Disciplinary control of all Police Officers in Nigeria (except the Inspector General of Police). With the weight of responsibility placed on an important agency of government such as the PSC, it is disastrous to allow any functionary to operate it illegally and by extension, in nullity.
“Recall Sir, that by the list released from your office titled and dated 29th December 2017: Federal Government Appoints Governing Boards for Parastatals and Agencies, in which you conveyed Mr. President’s directive to take immediate effect, the following members constitute the new PSC;Chairman – To be appointed by Mr. President; Gladys Amuleke; Kelobas A. Kere Olayinka Balogun (rtd); Hon. Muktar Okpaniki; Maria E.A Ukpanyang and Suleiman M. Namadi
“While the president is yet to name a Chairman, Section 161{C} of the 1999 constitution as amended is explicit. 161 {C} “any reference to “member” of a body established by Section 153 of this constitution shall be construed as including a reference to the Chairman of that body”.
CSNAC noted further that, “We however, view Mr. Okiro’s continued function till date in that capacity as either lack of understanding of the statutes or a deliberate disregard of government’s directive with an ulterior motive to continue certain activities that we are certain will not be in the interest of the police and the public.
“In an internal memo dated 5th January, 2018 from Mr. Okiro in his purported position as Chairman, directed the Permanent Secretary of the Commission to report an action to him in 7 days, among several others instructions. (Attached is a copy of the internal memo).”
Expressing its request to the SGF via the petition, CSNAC said, “We request an immediate directive to Mr. Okiro to hand over to the relevant officer deemed fit to act in that capacity because any decision of the Okiro led Commission after your directive dated 29th December, 2017 appointing a new board shall be viewed as null and void.
“An investigation and review of all actions taken and instructions given my Mr. Okiro in his capacity as the Chairman of Police Service Commission post December 29, 2017”
The anti-graft monitoring group said failure to carry out the it’s first request within one week of the receipt of the letter, “Will force us to proceed to a competent court of law to stop him from parading himself as Chairman and will further challenge all action(s) purportedly taken by him and the others within the period under reference,” CSNAC said.
