The Inspector‑General of Police, Usman Baba, and the Chairman of the Police Service Commission, retired IGP Solomon Arase, met on Wednesday with several retired IGPs at the Police Service Commission’s corporate headquarters in Jabi, Abuja. The meeting, convened at the request of Dr Arase, focused on effective partnership and other key issues affecting both the PSC and the Nigeria Police Force (NPF). The retired officers shared their experiences from the times they led the NPF and the PSC.
Present at the gathering were former IGPs Sunday Ehindero, Ogbonna Onovo (a former PSC Chairman), Mike Okiro, and the incumbent Chairman of the Police Trust Fund, Suleiman Abba. Chairman Arase thanked the serving and retired IGPs for accepting his invitation and assured that the commission would continue to prioritize the welfare of police officers.
Speaking to journalists after the meeting, IGP Baba pledged the current leadership’s commitment to collaborate with the PSC for the effective implementation of the Police Reform Agenda. He praised the PSC Chairman for assembling the “eggheads” for the laudable meeting and explained his intent to draw on the retirees’ experience before his own retirement. “I need to tap into their experiences and inform them of the positive developments the police have achieved during my tenure,” he said.
IGP Baba highlighted the support he receives from the government, fellow security agencies, and the public, both in Nigeria and the diaspora. He noted that the dialogue on contemporary law‑enforcement challenges is ongoing and will become more frequent, with quarterly meetings planned. “Crime prevention and control are dynamic; we need a dynamic approach,” he added, expressing optimism that continued cooperation will yield results.
The presence of retired IGP Arase as PSC Chairman underscores the solidarity between serving and retired leaders. Baba said the discussions have produced concrete ideas to improve the relationship between the NPF and the PSC, particularly in appointments, recruitment, discipline, and promotion, ensuring processes are transparent and acceptable.
Retired IGP Sunday Ehindero also addressed the press, commending the IGP for the successful conduct of the 2023 elections. He observed that police conduct has improved, partly due to technology and legal developments, and emphasized the importance of retired IGPs voicing their views on contemporary challenges. “The political, social and economic problems facing the country are a passing phase for the police,” he asserted, adding that despite international pressures, Nigeria has its own ways of resolving issues. Quoting Benson Jackson, he remarked that “the worst never happens here; we always find a way to solve our problems.” He concluded that the deliberations gave him confidence in the future performance and direction of the Nigeria Police Force.
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