Buhari told to sack Police Service Commission Chairman, Musiliu Smith immediately
Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) on Saturday urged President Muhammadu Buhari to dismiss the chairman of the Police Service Commission, Musiliu Smith (rtd) over recurring ineptitude under his administration. HURIWA’s National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, in a statement, backed the call for Smith’s sacking made by the Joint Union Congress of Police Service Commission.
The staff blamed Smith for the #EndSARS nationwide protests in October 2020, saying the wanton destruction of police formations and killing of scores of policemen were totally avoidable if the PSC leadership had been proactive in addressing challenges of policing in the country.
The PSC is a civilian oversight body of the Nigerian Police Force.
The Chairman of PSC Joint Union Congress, Augustine Adoyi, said staff of the Commission would launch a massive protest if their demands including ensuring merit-based promotion in the Nigeria Police Force were not met.
The body embarked on an indefinite strike last week over a working condition dispute, among other issues.
Reacting, HURIWA’s Onwubiko said, “It is unfortunate that the Police Service Commission under IGP Musiliu Smith (rtd) has become a unit in the office of the IGP, which is contrary to the statute setting it up as a civilian oversight body of the Nigeria Police Force.
“It is embarrassing that instead of concerning itself with germane issues in consonance with its mandate, the PSC under Smith has engaged in needless battles like the distraction called the tussle over the recruitment of constables, which it has been dragging with the Inspector General of Police, IGP Usman Baba.
“Also, under IGP Smith, the NPF has continued to operate with arrant impunity. For instance, last December, policemen invaded an Anglican church in Imo State, where they abducted Rochas Okorocha’s son-in-law, Uche Nwosu.
