The Police Service Commission (PSC) has issued a stark warning, stating that Nigeria's persistent insecurity cannot be overcome without robust funding for institutions that hold the police accountable. The commission argues that despite enormous financial allocations to policing, the nation remains unsafe because mechanisms for oversight and discipline have been critically neglected.
The Core Contradiction in Security Spending
Chief Onyemuche Nnamani, the Secretary to the Commission, delivered this message at a public event in Abuja on Monday, December 29, 2025. The occasion was the presentation of a book titled Police Service Commission and Police Accountability in Nigeria, authored by retired Commission Director, Anuli Elfreda Okoli.
Nnamani emphasized a fundamental flaw in the country's approach. "A nation is secured not by the number of weapons it deploys, but by how effectively it controls the use of force," he stated. He pointed out the glaring contradiction where governments approve trillions of Naira for policing operations but starve the oversight bodies of necessary resources.
He described the PSC as a constitutional pillar established under Section 153(1) of the 1999 Constitution, mandated to oversee police discipline, appointments, and accountability. However, this critical mandate has been weakened by consistent underfunding and institutional disregard.
Consequences of a Weakened Oversight Body
The PSC Secretary outlined the direct chain reaction caused by poor oversight. "When oversight is weak, discipline breaks down. When discipline breaks down, professionalism suffers. And when professionalism suffers, public trust, with the crucial legitimacy factor that it carries, disappears," Nnamani explained.
He stressed that the consequences are not abstract theories but are felt daily by Nigerians during encounters with law enforcement on the streets and in police stations. He insisted that police accountability cannot be a vague, shared responsibility but must be a clearly defined and empowered function.
Nnamani warned that security without accountability may appear strong temporarily but is ultimately just instability waiting to resurface. He urged a re-evaluation of national budgeting priorities to strengthen the Commission's operational capacity.
Book Launch Honors Retired Director's Legacy
The book presentation doubled as a celebration of the author, Anuli Elfreda Okoli, marking her retirement after 30 years of service, her 60th birthday, and her contributions to police reform discourse. Okoli stated that her hands-on experience in police oversight and disciplinary processes inspired the book, which she hopes will serve as a resource for policymakers, scholars, and citizens.
The Chairman of the PSC, DIG Hashimu Salihu Argungu (Rtd.), represented by DIG Taiwo F. Lakanu (Rtd.), commended Okoli's professionalism. The event was chaired by Senator Victor Umeh, who praised the author for documenting vital institutional knowledge.
Highlights of the ceremony included:
- A review of the book by civil society leader, Dr. Otive Igbuzor.
- Presentation of the book by former Head of the Civil Service, Dr. Amal Pepple.
- Chief Ben Okoye serving as the Chief Launcher.
- Presentation of an Award of Service to Okoli by the Commission's Chairman.
Okoli also used the event to unveil the logo for the Beneddette Ezewuzie Legacy Foundation (BEL Foundation), a philanthropic initiative focusing on empowerment and social change, signaling the start of her post-retirement chapter.
