Fear of strike makes police promote over 21,000 officers

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, has approved the promotion of 21,039 junior police officers who were last promoted on or before 2017.

This was coming weeks after some bellwethers among the police rank and file mobilized for a nation-wide strike in protest of poor condition of service.

According to a press release from the Force Headquarters, the promotion comprised the elevation of 20,572 Sergeants to the next rank of Inspector, 324 Corporals to Sergeants, and 143 Constables to the rank of Corporal.

It is also part of the ongoing efforts aimed at improving welfare, conditions of service, boosting the morale of personnel, with a view to repositioning the Force for greater efficiency.

“The IGP further noted that the promotion of the officers is part of the manpower development drive of his administration to ensure that deserving personnel are promoted accordingly, to encourage hard work, and further embed the culture of merit, excellence, and dedication to duties,” the statement read Iinpart.

He equally assured senior police officers that the Force high command is liaising with the Police Service Commission on the release of their promotion, which is expected to be approved and released as soon as possible.

The promotion, he noted, was a call for renewed zeal, vigour, patriotism to duty, and further re-dedication to professional policing standards.