By Fatima Zahra Muhammad
The Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), Dr. Solomon Arase has commended the National Assembly over the passage of the Police Pension Board Bill.
Arase stated this in a statement issued on the sideline of the training of some Directors of the Commission in accountable Policing oversight and criminal justice system.
The statement signed by Ikechukwu Ani, the Head, of Press and Public Relations at the PSC said that the training was organized by the Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria, South Africa in conjunction with the African Policing Oversight Forum.
The PSC Chairman noted that the passage of the bill has removed police personnel from the former scheme which had impacted negatively on their standard of living and exposed them to several health challenges.
“I commend the retired Officers who were resolute and persistently pursued their interests in a civilized manner. The quick assent to the bill will be the icing on the cake and will assuage the pangs of abject poverty they have been consigned to after a meritorious service of their fatherland where some paid the supreme price to ensure security and Public safety in the country,” he said.
Speaking further on the training, Arase said that the program seeks to expose the Directors to Democratic Policing and accountability, national oversight and accountability framework, use of force, basic guarantees around arrest and detention, and effective and non-coercive interviewing and prevention of torture.
“It also covered exposure to the right to life – duty to investigate.
“The PSC Chairman noted that the training will be continuous and extensive and would also involve exchange programs that will develop the self-confidence of the Commission staff and the Police Officers in adhering to international best practices.
“He promised that similar training will be extended to the Police in areas of respect for the fundamental human rights of Nigerians,” the statement said.
