Nigerian police force rebranding: challenges for Onovo
Shopping Product ReviewsThat the image of the Nigerian Police Force has disappeared is no longer news, but that no success has been recorded in redemption of the image of the police is really disheartening. One of the Nigerian comedians said some time ago that the Nigerian Police Force and NEPA (now PHCN) are the only two natural disasters we have in Nigeria. Well, while it is rib-shattering sarcasm, it does not provide a pragmatic approach to police transformation and social reconstruction in Nigeria. However, he gives an idea of the level of decay (ad sum mum) in these institutions.
In this fast-paced, conflict-inflicted environment like Nigeria, the officers and men of the Nigerian police force are faced with a series of major, life-changing decisions every day, amidst competing and conflicting values and interests. which are publicly accessible. They face a variety of ethical standards and dilemmas that may include: tribal bias and interactions, observance of suspects’ constitutional rights, treatment of offenders, evidence issues, and opportunities for occupational diversion. There is a high probability of mistakes, bad ethical decisions, and sometimes complete neglect of morality, the consequences of which can negatively affect the agency, the profession, the government, and society at large.
Surveillance refers to the measures and practices to ensure the safety of community members, as well as ensure compliance with the STANDARDS and VALUES of society. In fact, the Nigerian police have failed to live up to these responsibilities due to the glaring ethical vacuum and inability to overcome their genuine moral challenges.
Despite the increase in unethical behavior in society, there is an exception for police to act ethically on and off duty, and in relation to citizens, although there appears to be no obligation for citizens to act ethically in relation to police. . Unfortunately, officers and men are not properly equipped to make informed ethical decisions.
The immediate past IGP in its 9 point agenda had ‘five points’ which focused on morality and the moral challenges of the Police. They include: Transparency/Accountability, War on Corruption/Crime, Police Public Image/PR, Human Rights, and Community Policing. The 9 point agenda that was intended for a total transformation of the Force was misdirected, not implemented correctly, so it can best be described as the act of pouring water on a duck.
Mike Okiro defined accountability and transparency as openness and candor, pledging in his June 5, 2007 inaugural address that transparency and accountability will be the hallmarks of his administration in order to “reverse the disdain and the contempt with which police officers are held inside Nigeria.” society’. He also promised that ‘all police officers and men must commit to delivering the services that citizens expect in a timely, fair, honest, effective and transparent manner’ and that ‘society expects no less and the new administration will aggressively pursue this goal to completion. logic”.
Transparency and accountability are attitudinal and bother the mentality a lot, which is why they require much more than a mere pronouncement and commitment. Promises and oaths have proven useless in ensuring commitment to truth and honesty, especially in Nigeria. Otherwise all Nigerians would have become saints after forty nine years of commitment to our country Nigeria to be faithful, loyal and honest.
Transparency and accountability require intentionality of act and purpose, development of conviction, and commitment to truth and honesty. However, this can only be possible through dedicated training, retraining and monitoring.
The war against corruption is not a war against an enemy; it is above all a war for the self and against the self before the other, victory follows the same. It requires a total change of self, the complete deconstruction of the current mindset, belief and worldview of the police that breeds corruption. It is therefore a war that must first be won internally and as the light that shines in the darkness manifests itself externally dispelling corruption in all its dimensions. This explains why the Police have failed in this.
Policing has become more community-based; therefore, accountability to the public has become a very relevant issue that affects the provision of police service. The police, as a criminal agency, have a responsibility to safeguard the rule of law and take into account the fundamental rights and freedoms of individuals. In any democracy, policing requires high levels of integrity to be acceptable. The police must guarantee public confidence so that the system fulfills its mission to the fullest and recovers its public image. It has become very critical to ensure that Officials and Men are equipped with the knowledge and skills to enable them to make informed ethical decisions, thus significantly minimizing the degree of ethical misjudgment and unethical behaviour.
In 1997, the International Association of Chiefs of Police made it clear that training in Police Ethics has become the greatest need for police training and leadership today and in the next century. They further admitted that most departments do not conduct ethics training and that nothing is more devastating to the policing profession than uncovered scandals or uncovered acts of officer misconduct and unethical behavior.
It has become clear that only properly educated and trained police officers can adequately respond to the moral and ethical dilemmas of their profession. It is only a police officer who is capable of resolving these dilemmas adequately that he can perform his duties professionally and for the benefit of the community. And finally, in doing the above, he cannot rely solely on his intuition and experience. Hence the need to reinforce ethical values in police action, through training in the principles of police ethics, moral reasoning, ethical decision-making and standards of ethical conduct in the profession, without which the image would not be saved. of force and the war against corruption not won.
Police ethics is a branch of applied normative ethics, which establishes a link between ‘theory’ and ‘practice’ and makes ethical theory accountable to practice and professional practice accountable to theory. It is the application of the principles of ethics applied to the police profession.
From the above, it is obvious that the Nigerian Police is facing a serious moral crisis, which has cancerously eaten away at the heart of the institution. Although some have argued that the state of the police is a reflection of society, therefore, as part of society, it cannot be different from the whole. While this is definitely true and logical, I consider it escapism.
I look back with such hope and optimism on characters like David Apaegee, Francis Iheanacho, Ovat Etim, Yakubu Idakwo and Usang Benjamin, aptly described as ‘The Fantastic Five’ by Ken Ugbechie. These police officers returned the wallet containing £100,000 worth of credit cards, ATM debit card, cash and other valuables. Ken Ugbeche reported that as men under intense financial pressure compelling them to steal, pinch, and poach, they did not submit to the lust for profit and the lure of treachery, but banished thought and fantasy from the volume of assets they had. I could buy with 100,000 pounds and thing chastity and honesty.
Unlike another breed of police whose acts were written in inks of ignominy, infamy and heartbreaking hatred, these men dared to be Daniel, dared to stand alone as role models, moral leaders and the hope of a new Nigeria.
As promised by the Inspector General of Police Mr. Ognonna Onovo; “by the time we complete the reforms we will have the kind of police force that will measure up to our colleagues around the world”, honest efforts must be made to achieve this, to ensure that the police reach a level of moral conscience and are adequately equipped to make informed ethical decisions like ‘The Fantastic Five’.
Ubechie’s conclusion that the Fantastic Five deserve more training to prepare them for greater responsibilities in the force and should be encouraged to rise to the top, since that’s where men like them belong, is strategic for a true rebrand. and sustainable of the Nigerian Police Force.