IGP advocates training, human capacity enhancement for organisational efficiency

The Inspector-General of Police IGP Usman Alkali says there is a need for training and human capacity enhancement as a fundamental determinant of efficiency in any organisation.

The IGP  stated this while in a meeting with the commandant of the Nigerian Police Colleges in Abuja, Nigeria’s Capital.

Mr Alkali said no organisation can perform above the capacity of its human assets. “This explains why most institutions invest heavily in quality training of their personnel”.

The IGP emphasised that “the need for quality manpower is even more essential for an institution as critical to national security as the Nigeria Police and the responsibility for this process falls squarely on the knowledge, patriotism, sense of dedication and discipline of Commandants and other instructors of the Police Training Institutions where the basic training of our recruit Constables will hold”.

The Police Chief reiterated that “it important to summon this meeting with a view to sharing my expectations with you and engaging you directly towards setting training standards, agenda, and anticipated outcomes for the 2020/2021 recruit trainees that will be under your professional tutelage.

For this purpose, the recruit training for the 2020/2021 Phase of the Nigeria Police Recruitment exercise will commence on 10% January 2022. It will hold in the four (4) Premier Police Colleges in Lagos, Kaduna, Maiduguri and Orji River, as well as in twelve (12) other Police Training Institutions spread across the country.

Note that the current recruitment exercise has been well articulated in an all-inclusive and all-stakeholders process which involved the Police Service Commission, the Ministry of Police Affairs as well as other strategic relevant stakeholders. This obviously explains why the process has not only been transparent and seamless but has also thrown up the best candidates that the country can offer at that lower cadre of policing”.

The IGP added that he expects that all “strategic Heads of the Training Institutions will facilitate the process of the transition of the recruits from ‘civilians’ to well-groomed police personnel that will see themselves as incorruptible, civil, and true security servants of the citizens with the right orientation as protectors of the rights of all Nigerians”.

He explained that the vision of the Police Force is to ensure that the upcoming training is fit-for-purpose and must deviate from the old-fashioned standard that dehumanizes the recruits in a manner that turns them into hostile security servants towards members of the public that they were recruited to serve.

“The plan is to emplace a new training regime that must impart the virtues of professionalism, knowledge, discipline, confidence knowledge, and _ critical decision-making potentials in the recruits. This is with the outcome of ensuring that they are trained appropriately and humanely enough to advance my agenda of ‘policing with courage and serving with compassion”.

He used the opportunity to caution against any form of extortion of the recruits by the Directing, Drill Staff or any other staff of the Police Colleges. “Note that the Force Management Team has our ears on the ground and any form of infraction on this directive will be visited with the severe sanction and appropriate disciplinary measures”.

The IGP revealed that adequate provisions have been made by the Federal Government for the welfare of the recruits and the Staff of the Training Colleges. “It is expected to liaise with the Commissioners of Police in all respective States to ensure that adequate security arrangements are made for the protection of the Colleges”.

Equally, the training must always comply with the protocols laid down by the Presidential Panel on COVID-19. In this regard, all Staff and recruits must wear face masks and observe social distancing among other measures.

Mr Alkali thanked the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria President Muhammadu Buhari for his statesmanship, visionary leadership and a firm commitment to the Nigeria Police Reform Agenda. “Aside from the enhancement of the welfare package across the board for personnel of the Force, the sustenance of the recruitment process and prompt appropriation of funds for the exercise have been critical in our drive to address the historic manpower gaps that impact on the ability to optimally attain policing mandate”.

He also thanked the Minister of Police Affairs and the Chairman and Commissioners of the Police Service Commission for the understanding, cooperation, and unprecedented support for the Police leadership.

Nnenna.O