By Adewole Kehinde
“People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” ~ Maya Angelou
On Tuesday, the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, decorated eight Commissioners of Police promoted to the rank of Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG). Also, 15 DCs were promoted to the substantive rank of CP.
On assumption of office, IGP Kayode Egbetokun declared that promotion in the Nigeria Police Force would be only on merit.
Since the inception of the current police administration under IGP Egbetokun, the Force has been committed to the standardisation of the promotion process within the Force.
The current promotion exercise, like those preceding it under his administration, adheres strictly to the fundamental principles of seniority and merit.
Since the IGP reaffirmed that the promotion process will continue to be transparent and fair to all officers, he has not departed from the affirmation.
There is no officer eligible for a promotion that has been denied their rightful advancement.
As part of efforts aimed at motivating police personnel in the fight against insecurity, the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, authorised the promotion of ten thousand, five hundred and eighty-one (10,581) deserving junior officers of the Inspectorate Cadre and the Rank and File in April 2024.
Those promoted include 9,831 police constables promoted to the rank of corporal; eighty-one corporals promoted to the rank of sergeant; and six hundred and sixty-nine officers progressed from the rank of sergeant to inspector.
The IGP, in approving the promotions, reiterated the zeal of the Force leadership to foster a culture of meritocracy and career advancement.
He emphasised the pivotal role of timely promotions in enhancing the morale of officers and bolstering the overall effectiveness of the Force.
He noted that it serves as a cornerstone for sustaining the ongoing manpower development initiatives of the Nigeria Police Force.
I recall that IGP Kayode Egbetokun also said that only officers who can inspire public confidence will be given sensitive duty posts, such as Commissioners of Police, Area Commanders, and DPOs. If you cannot inspire public confidence, you will not merit such positions.
Egbetokun said, “We want competence; we want honesty; we want integrity. That is the only way we can inspire public confidence. We want the support of members of the public. We cannot be calling for support when we also are not showing transparency, we’re not showing competence, and we are not showing capability.
IGP Egbetokun’s firmness has allowed personnel to be promoted based on their skills, experience, and performance, rather than favouritism or nepotism.
It has also motivated personnel to work harder and improve their skills and has increased productivity and efficiency.
There is no doubt that merit promotions can help personnel progress in their careers by recognising and rewarding their hard work and dedication.
In conclusion, merit promotion under IGP Egbetokun has contributed to a more skilled, engaged, and motivated police workforce.
I must commend the IGP and the entire police force for upholding the highest standards of professionalism, integrity, and service to the nation.
Adewole Kehinde is a public affairs analyst based in Abuja. 08166240846. kennyadewole@gamil.com
