No law backing Police Academy degrees – Okiro

Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC) Chief Mike Okiro said there is no law backing the conversion of Police Academy, Kano to a degree awarding institution.

Former president Goodluck Jonathan in April 2012 approved the conversion of the academy to a degree awarding institution. The institution which was initially for the training of police inspectors and assistant superintendents of police commenced degree programme during Jonathan’s tenure.

Leading a delegation of the PSC to Senate President Bukola Saraki, Okiro said the first set of the degree programme would be graduating in October this year without a law backing the conversion of the college.

Okiro, a retired Inspector General of Police said the visit was meant to draw the attention of the Senate to the Nigeria Police Academy (establishment) Bill which has been pending in the National Assembly since 2012.

“This visit has become necessary to seek the speedy consideration and passage of the bill because the cadets of the school would be graduating in October this year, and when they graduate in October this year, and there is no law backing the institution, it means that their certificates would not be marketable in the labour market anywhere,” Okiro said

Saraki said the Senate would fast track the consideration and passage of the bill.

He urged the PSC to ensure a return to “Professionalism and commitment” by men of the Nigeria Police Force, in view of the disturbing security crisis in some parts of the country.