*FEC honours Diya with a minute silence
By Mathew Dadiya, Abuja
President Muhammadu Buhari has inaugurated former Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Solomon Arase as Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC).
The swearing-in ceremony coincided with that of five members of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), just before the commencement of the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, presided over by the President at the Council Chamber of State House Abuja.
Former IGP Arase assumed the Chairmanship of the PSC following the resignation of another former Inspector-General of Police, Musiliu Smith who was alleged to have been advised by the PSC Board to resign in September 2022.
Arase, 65, was the 18th indigenous Inspector-General of Police (between April 2015 and June 2016), retired in 2016, and has served in various capacities including as head of the Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Bureau, the foremost intelligence-gathering unit of the Nigerian police.
The President also swore in five persons as members of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB).
They are Murtala A. Kankia from Katsina to represent (North West); Zephaniah Ishaku Bulus from Nasarawa to represent (North Central) and Farouq Umar from Yobe state to represent (North East).
Others are, Abdulsalam Taofiq Olawale from Ondo State to represent (South West) and Prof. Juwaria Badamasiuyi from Kogi State to represent (North Central).
The Federal Executive Council also observed a minute silence in honor of former Chief of General Staff, Lt. Gen. Oladipo Diya who died earlier in the week.
Diya, who served as the Chief of General Staff to the late Head of State, General Sani Abacha, died on Sunday, March 26, 2023, at the age of 79.
He was the military governor of Ogun State from January 1984 to August 1985.
In an interview with State House Correspondents, Arase promised to prioritize the welfare of officers and men of the Nigerian Police Force and fight corruption as well as the recurring issues between the IGP and the Police Service Commission.
Arase said: “We will be strong in training in various areas,s especially alternative dispute resolution.
“The issue of discipline will be taken seriously. I will not want a situation where civil situations arise. So any officer who steps out of the line, there will be consequences. But at the same time, they are my colleagues and children. So I’m going to make sure that I sharpen their skills.
“I’ll ensure that they start having confidence in themselves. With more training, the trust gap between members of the public and the police will be bridged. That is what I want to do. That member of the public will collaborate with the police force; see them as part of the larger society.
“Every policeman was a civilian and will return to civilian life after retirement as I have since retired some seven years ago.
“The benefits that are derivable from good conduct as a police officer, they will continue to reap it when they retire.”
