The Nigeria Police has initiated another move in its determined effort to combat crime in the country.
The latest innovation according to the Inspector- General of police, Mohammed Adamu will be the immediate reversal of the shift duty structure of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) from the 12hr, shifts system to the traditional 8-hrs shifts duty standard.
The Inspector-General of police gave the order while declaring open the conference of Heads of Police Medical Facilities at the force headquarters in Abuja over the weekend.
He disclosed that the suggestion is one of the ways the force discovered in its concerted effort to checkmate the constant incidence of misuse of firearms and other extra-judicial actions by police personnel which he noted has been traced to work-related stresses and emotional conditions which often disorient their rationality.
The IGP made it known that the conference is significant in several ways, especially in the area of assisting the Police Leadership in identifying gaps within the operations of the Medical Services and in proposing pathways towards strengthening the capacity of the section as they project into the future.
According to him, “Within the context, I wish to reiterate that the policing and internal security management strategy under the current leadership is woven around the principles of community policing, adding that the import of this is that the Police must evolve a new orientation in terms of the nature of their interaction and content of services they render to the Public in all spheres of their professional engagements.
IGP Adamu made it clear that the only way to build trust and confidence between the Nigeria Police and the Citizens is the returning of the Police to the Community they serve which he considers a most veritable pathway.
He stated further that policing being a highly demanding job physically, mentally and psychologically, it is pertinent to note that efficiency in the discharge of Police duties requires a good state of physical, mental and psychological wellbeing.
According to him, “this directive is specifically informed by the need to address a major age-long occupational stress, including long hours of duty of police personnel which often occasions depression and abuse of power as well as other professional conducts.
For avoidance of doubt the IGP stated that henceforth no police personnel should be made to perform any duty exceeding 8hrs within a space of 24hrs unless there is a local or national emergency.
IGP Adamu also used the opportunity to promise an improved Nigeria Police Medical Services, adding that the peculiar challenges facing this department will be tackled headlong.
“The current Police Management will ensure that these challenges, as well as career and welfare concerns of personnel in the NPMS are addressed on a sustainable basis.
I however, charge you to continuously discharge your professional duties with a high sense of commitment and responsibility to meet the ever-growing health needs your personnel”.
