| IGP Ogbonna O. Onovo 1st Conference |
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| Saturday, 15 August 2009 16:22 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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AN ADDRESS PRESENTED BY THE INSPECTOR-GENERAL OF POLICE OGBONNA O. ONOVO, OON, NPM, mni AT A CONFERENCE WITH SENIOR POLICE OFFICERS ON TUESDAY 11TH AUGUST, 2009 AT THE IGP’S CONFERENCE ROOM, FORCE HEADQUARTERS, ABUJA
The Deputy Inspectors-General of Police, Senior Police Officers here present, Gentlemen of the Press, Ladies and Gentlemen.
I most heartily welcome you to this all important conference which I have summoned as a matter of necessity, in line with my intention to kick-start the activities of this administration, without undue delays. 2. It is not long that we all gathered here at the last conference on 23rd July, 2009 to witness the valedictory address of former Inspector-General of Police, Sir (Dr) Mike Mbama Okiro, CFR, NPM, mni. While we were still basking in the euphoria of a smooth transition and successful change of guards, we were confronted with serious security threats in some Northern parts of the country which have now been brought under control. 3. This latest security challenge raises serious concerns for law enforcement in this country, and I have convened this meeting to enable us conduct a review of our intelligence and operational standards in readiness for future challenges. Today’s conference will therefore pay attention to that crisis as well as finalise arrangements to combat crime wave in different parts of the country especially in the South East. 4. As this is our first conference since I was appointed Inspector-General of Police, I feel the need to use this opportunity to prepare our minds towards the work ahead of us and the steps we shall be taking towards achieving our target goals. 5. In my maiden address which I presented on Monday 27th July, 2009, I underscored the fact that this administration will build on the achievements of previous ones, sustain on going initiatives while charting new courses for greater achievements. In doing this however, I find it expedient that greater attention should be paid to the need to reorient the police work force to the realities of modern day democratic policing and adequately imbibe in all Officers and men, the discipline and finesse required of them to be able to discharge their duties effectively. 6. Ideally, the power of the Police to fulfil their functions is dependent upon securing and maintaining community respect and approval which includes the community’s willingness to cooperate in the task of ensuring safety. The extent to which the community will cooperate with the Police is dependent on its respect for, and confidence in the Police. That respect/trust is diminished each time a Police Officer acts in an unprofessional, dishonest or unlawful manner! Time has come for all of us to understand that the basis of Police service is a desire and willingness to serve the community and that such service must be rendered honestly, efficiently and effectively. The administration of justice must be done in a just and impartial manner with Officers observing, upholding and enforcing all laws without bias or prejudice and without regard to the individual or individuals concerned. 7. To this end, I expect Officers in all Commands and Formations of the Force to conduct their private and professional lives in such a manner as to avoid bringing discredit upon themselves, the Force or the Society. The conduct of Officers should reflect the highest level of honesty, stability, fidelity, morality, decency and professionalism. 8. The integrity of the Nigeria Police Force has been called into question severally over a wide range of issues most of which border on corrupt practices of individual Officers. The public confidence in our policing system is shaken at two major levels: · The Integrity of the Force as an entity as well as · The personal integrity of the vast majority of our Officers. 9. One broad brush is constantly used to paint all members of the Force in the same way. This is very unfair to the teeming majority of Officers and men most of whom have the highest personal integrity. 10. While not trying to present a defence, I wish to use this medium to reassure the Nigerian public of the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to honest and effective community service. Within these three weeks of being appointed and confirmed as the Inspector-General of Police, I have held several meetings with Government and other security chiefs as well as Officers working at the Force Headquarters. 11. In all of these meetings, I have restated my resolve to pursue an agenda that will ensure an effective Police system with a work force that is patriotic in all its dealings. I have received commitments from members of the Management Team to work together to resurrect the core values of the Police Force with special focus on discipline and ethical conduct among members of the Force. 12. Consequently we will soon publish a ‘Code of Ethics” that will communicate unequivocally to all Officers and men, the standards I believe the Nigerian people have a right to expect from us. The Code of Ethics will reinforce the fact that Police Officers are public servants and must be responsive to and earn the confidence of the community we serve. 13. I can assure you that I take this Code of Ethics very seriously as I have for each and every day of the past thirty-two (32) years that I have served the Force. I fully expect every man and woman employed in the service of the Nigeria Police, whether sworn or civilian, irrespective of rank, grade or position, to fully share these values. 14. In the next few weeks, we shall institute a public feedback/complaints process with the objective of eliciting a more coordinated participation/reactions from the public regarding Police service in different communities as well as reports on the conduct of Police Officers. The essence is to harness a periodic review of Police response to complaints and concerns raised by members of the public and equally deal with allegations of misconduct among personnel ranging from serious personal misconduct to general service complaints. 15. The goal is to identify misconduct and criminal behaviour and more aggressively attack and remove their rooting from our system. To this end, it will be a policy of the Nigeria Police Force that a sustained citizen complaint of misconduct will result in serious disciplinary action. 16. The overall vision is to regenerate the minds of all Police Officers to imbibe the culture of discipline and the principles of democratic and people oriented policing so that we can have a police system which is responsive; a process which treats the public honestly and fairly; a system which gives the citizen a timely and personal response and is perceived by the public to be fair and effective. 17. Now is therefore the time to rededicate ourselves to the fundamental duty of service to mankind; to safeguard lives and property; to protect the innocent against deception; the weak against oppression or intimidation; the peaceful against violence or disorder; maintaining courageous calm in the face of danger, ridicule or blame; having and showing respect for the constitutional rights of all men to liberty, equality and justice; and doing all these without regard to race, creed, colour, gender or any other sentiments! These are the core values of our profession, on which foundation, the ‘Law Enforcement Code of Ethics’ is founded. 18. Let me now state that I am absolutely and personally committed to ensuring that these core values form the fulcrum of Police administration and operations in this country and I sincerely believe that the vast majority of Officers and men of the Force join me in that commitment. I demand this same level of commitment to integrity and excellence from all of you as nothing short of this is required in order to tackle and effectively solve the many problems which we face. 19. The fight must of necessity begin from the grassroot areas of policing: the Police Divisions/Formations, the Area and State Commands up to the highest level at Louis Edet House. Command CPs and Zonal AIGs must immediately begin to energise their Officers and men in line with this new thinking and prepare their minds and bodies to usher in an era of disciplined responsibility, diligence, uprightness, transparency and accountability, and a time when the slogan – “The Police is Your Friend” – will indeed make a meaning to the Nigerian people. 20. I am aware that this is a tall order but one which I am determined to achieve. That is why we have commenced a massive retraining exercise for Police Officers across the country. This exercise which is primarily aimed at improving the operational capacity of Officers will equally imbue in them, the requisite confidence required to police an average Nigerian society. This week will therefore witness a massive withdrawal of Policemen attached to unauthorised persons, to enable them join their counterparts and participate in the refresher courses. 21. Subsequently, we shall equally ensure that the services of Policemen are not abused by members of the public as we intend to appropriately deploy our manpower to police the general society instead of restricting them to some privileged few. Policemen properly posted on duty as orderlies or escorts must henceforth restrict themselves to security duties as against the present situation where most of them have been turned into house helps, bag carriers, gate openers and what have you. 22. Members of the public especially highly placed individuals enjoying Police security must allow such Policemen to perform their duties of providing security and not demean them and the institution they represent by arrogating menial chores to them. 23. The Nigeria Police Force will no longer tolerate this and will not hesitate to withdraw such security and equally punish the personnel who allows himself to be so misused. I seek the understanding of the public in this regard so that together, we can build a valued and respected Police Force that all of us will be proud of. 24. I have no doubt that our image can be rebuilt for the better as we improve our Operational and Administrative efficiency. With a common sense of purpose, I believe that our standards can again rate high and that we can achieve these as we work conscientiously to redeem public faith and trust in our Police system. 25. This is our mission, and I solicit the support of everyone towards its achievement. Thank you and God bless.
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