Police Union prepared to begin a continuing, indefinite strike

Ibekimi Oriamaja Reports

The Joint Union Congress of the Police Service Commission is prepared to begin a continuing, indefinite strike against the commission’s management as a result of a contract violation.
The Joint Service Union’s PSC section’s chairman, Adoyi Adoyi, said that the strike would begin on Monday, August 29, 2022.

The reason behind the strike action is a disagreement between the commission’s staff, Chairman Musiliu Smith, and Inspector General Usman Baba on who should be in charge of selecting, promoting, and employing constables and officers.

Adoyi asserted that the IGP abruptly removed the PSC in defiance of that body’s jurisdiction, the Nigerian constitution, and an Appeal Court decision. He alleged that the commission’s management disregarded the PSC’s constitutional obligations.

Adoyi announced that we will start an indefinite strike on August 29 in protest of the way the PSC is being run by the commission’s chairman and the IGO Usman Baba’s blatant disregard for the law, the constitution, and the PSC.

The constitution lists the duties of the PSC, however the IGP has taken over all of them in the commission’s place. In defiance of what the constitution says, he promotes and appoints people as he deems fit.

The constitution gives the PSC, not the IGP, the power to propose, promote, and employ police officers and constables.