By ALABA OLUSOLA OKE

A human rights group, Defenders of Nigerian Citizens (DNC), has urged the Nigeria Police Force and the Police Service Commission to fully implement court orders reinstating 455 police officers who were compulsorily retired.

The group appealed to the Inspector-General of Police, the police authorities and the commission to ensure that the affected officers were reinstated, posted and paid their entitlements in accordance with the court rulings.

The officers, graduates of Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police Courses 18, 19 and 20 at the Nigeria Police Academy, Kano, were compulsorily retired before seeking legal redress.

The group also noted that the National Industrial Court, sitting in Abuja, had ordered the police authorities to reinstate the affected officers and that the order was affirmed by the Court of Appeal.

The DNC Coordinator, Mr Aliu Adeifa, said in a statement issued on Wednesday in Akure that the group was concerned about the pace of implementation of the court orders.

Adeifa said the police authorities had yet to take substantial steps towards the officers’ full reinstatement, apart from sending them for an induction course in Jos, Plateau.

“We at DNC are observing developments in the Nigeria Police Force regarding the reinstatement of some senior officers.

“We understand that the affected officers are undergoing the induction course, but we appeal to the police authorities to respect the court orders and ensure that nothing distracts from their full implementation,” he said.

He added that the officers should be posted to their respective duties after completing the course and that all their entitlements should be paid.

He, however, suggested that officers who were above 60 years of age or were already receiving pensions could be excluded from the reinstatement process, while those covered by valid court judgments should be allowed to complete the course and resume duty.

“If the number is too high, instead of bringing everybody together, the police can remove those who are above 60 years and those already on pension, and allow those with valid court judgments to complete the course and get their postings,” he stated.

The DNC coordinator also called on President Bola Tinubu to make the welfare of police personnel a major priority of his administration.

He said improved remuneration, adequate logistics, decent housing and other welfare packages were necessary to motivate officers and enhance their effectiveness in protecting lives and property.

“Our findings show that the police force is facing serious challenges, particularly in the area of welfare. They need good remuneration, sound logistics, housing and other welfare packages.

“As the government has done for the Nigerian Army, let it do the same for the police so that we can have a better and safer Nigeria,” he said. (NAN