Speaking on Wednesday at a public presentation of a book the former president said retired police officers should not be appointed to head the PSC.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has called on the federal government to stop appointing retired police officers to chair the Police Service Commission (PSC).

This followed the Senate’s confirmation in January of Solomon Arase, retired inspector-general of police (IGP), as substantive chair of the PSC to replace Musiliu Smith, also a former IGP.

But speaking on Wednesday at a public presentation of a book the former president said retired police officers should not be appointed to head the PSC.

According to Obasanjo, police officers should instead be appointed as members of the commission, while civilians should be appointed as chair.

The former military and civilain ruler stated that this would ensure effective and efficient service delivery.

On the establishment of state police, Obasanjo said: “I won’t say yes or no, but can they not be abused by the federal government?.

“For a federation, it is contrary to the ideal of the country because unitary policing system is not close enough to the community where the police are supposed to be.

“The author argued whether the name should truly be the Nigeria Police Force or a police service. I believe the police should be a police service, not a police force.”

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