Police commission union issues notice of indefinite strike

Due to a breach of an agreement, the Joint Union Congress of the Police Service Commission has sent the commission’s management notice of an upcoming indefinite strike.

The strike, according to the union, will start on Monday, August 29, 2022.

In a conversation with reporters on Thursday, Mr Adoyi Adoyi, the chairman of the Joint Service Union, PSC chapter, revealed this.

The notice is being issued amid a dispute over who should be in charge of hiring, promoting, and appointing police officers and constables between commission employees, the commission’s chairman, Mr Musiliu Smith, and the inspector general of police, Usman Baba.

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He stated that the PSC’s constitutional role had been overridden by the IGP and other police chiefs acting in collusion with the PSC chairman.

Adoyi continued by alleging that the IGP has taken it upon himself to carry out PSC duties in flagrant violation of the Nigerian constitution, an Appeal Court ruling, and the PSC’s authorities.

In his words, “We’re embarking on an indefinite strike from Monday, August 29, to show our discontent with the way the PSC is being run by the chairman of the commission, and the flagrant disregard for the constitution, the court of law, and the PSC by the IGO, Usman Baba.

“The duties of the PSC are spelt out in the constitution, but the IGP has disregarded all of that, and has taken over the duties of the commission. He appoints and promotes at will as opposed to what is stated in the constitution.

“According to the constitution, the appointment, promotion, and recruitment of police officers and constables are the prerogative of the PSC, not the IGP.”