The Chairman of the Police Service Commission, DIG Hashimu Salihu Argungu (Rtd), has called on newly promoted senior officers of the Nigeria Police Force to prioritise strategic leadership, accountability, and corporate governance in driving institutional reforms.
Speaking at a two-day induction programme held in Abuja, Argungu stressed that rebuilding public trust in policing requires innovation, transparency, and strict adherence to governance standards. He delivered a paper titled “Policing Strategic Leadership on Promoting Public Sector Governance, Accountability and Institutional Excellence,” where he noted that modern policing must evolve beyond traditional methods.
The programme, organised by the Police Reform Secretariat in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme, CLEEN Foundation, and the Federal Government of Germany, focused on strengthening leadership capacity within the Force.
Argungu emphasised the need for world-class training, technological advancement, and international cooperation to enhance policing efficiency. He urged officers to adopt innovative approaches, particularly in intelligence gathering and cybercrime management, noting that outdated methods are no longer effective in today’s digital era.
Highlighting governance expectations, the PSC Chairman referenced the Federal Government’s Corporate Governance Manual, stressing that accountability, transparency, and integrity remain essential. He noted that police officers are accountable to multiple institutions, including the government, the National Assembly, the PSC, and the public.
He also identified recurring public complaints such as unlawful arrests, illegal searches, and excessive use of force, urging the new leadership to address these concerns to restore confidence in the Force.
The event, held at the Transcorp Hilton Abuja, brought together stakeholders including the Ministry of Police Affairs and the National Human Rights Commission. Argungu described the forum as an opportunity to strengthen collaboration and promote professionalism, ethical conduct, and institutional excellence within the Nigeria Police Force.