• The union resigns from IG for violation of the Constitution
• Wants Buhari to appoint a civilian to head the commission
Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja
Yesterday, the embattled chairman of the Police Services Commission (PSC), Musiliu Smith, resigned from his post.
THIS DAY he understood that Smith had left for reasons.
Another account said the commission’s board demanded he resign and agreed.
PSC spokesman Ikechukwu Ani told ESTE DÍA that the retired police inspector resigned from his post due to his medical condition.
Ani said: “Yes, I can verify that he has resigned. He resigned for reasons and the president accepted his resignation.
But the commission’s strikers, while welcoming Smith’s resignation, also called for the resignation of Inspector General of Police Usman Baba. They alleged that Usman colluded with Smith to usurp the commission’s constitutional powers to recruit and appoint police officers.
In an oral exchange with THISDAY, the Chairman of the Joint Executive Union of the Police Service Commission (PSC), Mr. Adoyi Adoyi, called on President Muhammad Buhari not to appoint a retired police leader to head the commission in order to allow him to serve as effectively.
Adoyi said: “We welcome his resignation because it is the most honorable thing that can be done. If you are given a project and fulfill your responsibility, the best thing you can do is settle for that component of honor and quit. “
“There are other people with whom he has collaborated to engage in constitutional violations,” the inspector general of police adds. We call on the IG to do the right thing and resign from his appointment for his involvement in this constitutional violation.
The union also for the appointment of a civilian to head the commission.
According to Adoyi, “Of all the former chairmen of the commission, Chief Simon Okeke is the best. He dealt with the disorders impartially.
“The Office of Civil Service Reforms (BPSR) also had the commission to be headed by a civilian as the police have a permanent representative on the commission’s board of directors.
As for the strike action filed by the commission’s staff, Adoyi said the union congress would meet today to make a decision. He said that with the resignation of the PSC president, protesting staff can simply dissolve their position and cancel the strike.
Committee workers cast a vote of no confidence in Smith on Tuesday. They alleged that he colluded with Nigerian police leaders to usurp the commission’s constitutional powers.
It should be recalled that a PSC commissioner, Naja’atu Bala Muhammad, requested the anti-corruption framework in relation to an alleged multi-million naira contract scam and other corrupt practices within the commission under the leadership of the former police chief.
Muhammad, who represents the Northwest, accused the chairman of the commission of mismanagement of resources and violation of due process by arbitrarily awarding false contracts, in a petition dated June 29, 2022.
She stated in the petition to the EFCC that the PsC chair had the authority to approve expenditures for and on behalf of the commission unless approved by the commission’s management. He also revealed that the steering committee guilty of approving capital expenditures met only twice. since its inauguration in 2018.
Muhammad said: “The control committee is for the Federal Executive Council, where government expenditures are approved. Sections 12, thirteen and 14 of the Commission provide the Commission’s budget and expenditure.
“However, since we arrived as commissioners 4 years ago, the control assembly has been held twice. “
She extra revealed in the petition: “On May 11, 2022, the approval of the Management Committee, the President of the PSC awarded or had awarded a contract and paid the sum of N34,749,375, that is, the payment of a 50% deposit paid to EMPLUG LTD for the design and development of the police electronic recruitment portal for the Commission.
“The contract was awarded despite a memorandum that obviously indicated that the ICT branch designed the online page loosely and has the ability to update it. However, due to the fraudulent intentions contained in the decision, a contract was awarded to do the same as the ICT branch has already done.
“Another very important contractual payment is the payment of N36,228,453. 90 to Wedewood Integrated Investment Limited as a final payment of less than 5% of the retention payment for the partitioning of the space, the installation of a wall panel and a traditional cabinet at the head of the PSCArrayimeuble. “
The petition also revealed: “The total amount of this contract paid to the contractor is N447,473,613. 00 without due process or control approval. Proof of payment is like Annex 17.
“From Commission account No. 2994350018, fraudulent transfers of approximately N200 million made to Vita Construction between April 9, 2021 and April 14, 2021 in increments of N10 million.
“These bills are from the fraud that continues. The reasons for the payment are unknown for the control of the commission, since no payment approval has been given through the control of this expense.
“In your investigation, you will request that the contract made through that company by commission justify those invoices and review the procedure through which the contract was awarded.
“From the same approval you paid Ogo Edward, a staff member of the commission, N7, 000,000. 00 for the acquisition of COVID-19 protection items, approval was also granted and won the sum of N25, 000,000. 00 for security and other similar issues as part of the 2020 Police Recruitment Medical Screening Exercise.
“It is worth noting that the security policy is provided through the Police Commands or Zone Commands for any police recruitment and related exercises.
“The question that the president and the permanent secretary will have to answer is when it was up to the commission to ensure the protection of these exercises. “
The PSC’s public and press leader, Ikechukwu Ani, showed the committee’s receipt of the petition.
Ani said: “Applications, approvals and expenditures have been carried out in accordance with government-approved monetary regulations.
“Those that required the approval of the Council of Ministers of Contracts were submitted to the Council and the approval received.
“Others have received the certificate of no objection from the Office of Public Procurement. Official approvals have also been given to members of the commission to carry out certain special projects, such as the recruitment of police officers.
“Payments for this special project have been withdrawn according to established rules. But, ironically, it is shown that the petitioner is in arrears.
“The committee is a reaction to the government’s request for attention. “
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