IG Abba: Officers are liable for excesses

He spoke at the 12th Daily Trust Dialogue themed “2015 Elections: How to Make Nigeria the Winner.”The IG was responding to a heated question from a female member of the audience who asked if he was ready to exhibit what he preached to his officers. Abba said one of the best ways he could lead […]

He spoke at the 12th Daily Trust Dialogue themed “2015 Elections: How to Make Nigeria the Winner.”
The IG was responding to a heated question from a female member of the audience who asked if he was ready to exhibit what he preached to his officers. Abba said one of the best ways he could lead his officers is to educate them so that they could perform their duties well. He said all police officers on election duties would work in accordance with the provisions of the law, saying anyone of them who defaults would be held responsible for his/her excesses.
The IG said the Police Force has published a pocket-size pamphlet that would guide officers on election duties and remind them about the consequences of their excesses. He said copies of the pamphlet would also be given to personnel of other law enforcement and security agencies on election duties.
In answer to the question he said, “I also agree that action speaks louder than words. One of the best ways I should lead my officers is to educate them so that they can perform their duties well. Every police officer will work in accordance with the provisions of the law and that he is held responsible, if in the exercise of his power, he exceeds the provisions of the law. And I’m not sure that there is anything wrong in publishing our guidance for anyone. It’ll guide our officers and remind them about those laws. It’ll tell them the consequences of their actions or excesses.”
According to him, unlike other stakeholders, the Police Force has been conducting election workshops and seminars to educate its personnel on their responsibilities before, during and after the elections. He added that the Force was partnering with the Nigeria Bar Association, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other stakeholders to enable the public understand its (police) roles. Abba said the Force was also working towards changing the attitude of its officers for them not to be partisan. His statement however drew murmurs from the audience, with some recalling last month’s blockade of the National Assembly Complex to prevent Speaker Aminu Tambuwal from gaining access to his office.
Abba said, “There is no other way to change a man than change his attitude. If democracy is all about good governance and observance of human rights and rule of law, I think the police have exhibited a resolve in strengthening our democracy. My experience teaches me that policing has changed. Policing is no more about arresting and prosecuting. The responsibility of the police in a democracy is to see to its challenging roles. The expectation is to ensure that a stable democracy is conducive, creating an enabling environment for economic development and providing acceptable effective service delivery to the people of Nigeria.
“A booklet on human rights practice worldwide that we printed will be given to each police officer so that he understands what human rights are and not only to respect those rights, but also not to infringe on the rights of people he’s serving. The Police Force has published standard operational guidelines containing rules for police officers on electoral duties. This is a pocket-size pamphlet and every police officer will have a copy. Other law enforcement and security officers on election duties will also have copies.”