PSC Boss Tasks Newly Promoted DIGs, AIGs on Accountability, Innovation
The Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), Hashimu Salihu Argungu, has charged newly promoted Deputy Inspectors-General and Assistant Inspectors-General of Police to adopt strategic leadership, accountability, and corporate governance as essential tools for reforming the Nigeria Police Force.
Argungu, a retired Deputy Inspector-General of Police, gave the charge while delivering a lead paper at a two-day induction programme held in Abuja. The lecture, titled “Policing Strategic Leadership on Promoting Public Sector Governance, Accountability and Institutional Excellence,” underscored the need for a paradigm shift in policing approaches.
According to him, modern policing requires more than conventional policy execution, stressing the importance of advanced training, technological integration, and international collaboration in enhancing operational efficiency and restoring public confidence.
The induction programme was organised by the Police Reform Secretariat in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), CLEEN Foundation, and the Federal Government of Germany.
Argungu noted that the Nigeria Police Force must develop the capacity to anticipate emerging security challenges and embrace innovation, particularly in the digital space. He warned that traditional intelligence-gathering methods are increasingly becoming obsolete in the face of evolving threats.
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Citing management expert Peter Drucker, he reiterated the principle of “innovate or die,” urging the new police management team to leverage technology, especially in handling electronic evidence and tackling cybercrime in line with global best practices.
The PSC chairman also highlighted the significance of the Federal Government’s Corporate Governance Manual, which outlines the responsibilities and liabilities of members of the Force Management Team. He stressed that accountability, transparency, and integrity must remain non-negotiable standards, noting that police officers are answerable to multiple oversight institutions, including the executive, legislature, the PSC, and the public.
Addressing concerns over public perception, Argungu identified persistent complaints against police personnel, such as arbitrary arrests, unlawful searches, and excessive use of force. He urged the new leadership to confront these issues decisively to rebuild public trust and confidence in the Force.
He further outlined key components of the induction programme, including ethical standards, financial regulations, and the role of external oversight bodies in ensuring discipline and professionalism.
The event, held at the Transcorp Hilton Abuja, attracted stakeholders from the Federal Ministry of Police Affairs and the National Human Rights Commission, among others.
Argungu described the forum as a strategic platform to strengthen collaboration among the PSC, the Nigeria Police Force, and reform-focused institutions, while advancing discussions on governance, professionalism, and ethical conduct in the country’s policing system.
By PRNigeria
