The Police Service Commission (PSC) has issued a stark warning, stating that Nigeria's persistent insecurity is a direct result of weak oversight and accountability mechanisms within the country's security governance framework.
Oversight Erodes Public Trust and Discipline
Speaking at a public event in Abuja on Monday, the Secretary of the Commission, Onyemuche Nnamani, argued that lasting security cannot be purchased with firepower and weapons alone. He emphasized that when oversight is weak, it fundamentally erodes discipline, professionalism, and the vital public trust in law enforcement agencies.
Nnamani made these remarks during the presentation of the book, Police Service Commission and Police Accountability in Nigeria. The book was authored by Anuli Elfreda Okoli, a retired Director of the Commission. The event also celebrated Okoli's retirement after 30 years of service, her 60th birthday, and her contributions to the national discourse on police reform.
A Constitutional Mandate Weakened by Neglect
The PSC Secretary described the commission as a critical constitutional body established under Section 153(1) of the 1999 Constitution. Its core mandate is to oversee police discipline, appointments, and ensure accountability. However, Nnamani warned that this vital mandate has been severely weakened by chronic poor funding and institutional neglect.
He pointed out a glaring contradiction in Nigeria's security priorities. While successive governments approve colossal financial allocations for policing—running into trillions of Naira—the very institutions tasked with oversight and reform, like the PSC, are left under-resourced and struggling to function effectively.
The Daily Consequences of a Weak PSC
Nnamani explained that the consequences of an enfeebled Police Service Commission are not abstract. They are painfully evident in the daily encounters between ordinary Nigerians and law enforcement officers. He stressed that police accountability cannot be fragmented or treated as a shared but undefined responsibility; it must be clear and robust.
"A nation is secured not by the number of weapons it deploys, but by how effectively it controls the use of force," Nnamani stated. He further asserted that the PSC is not a decorative institution but a central pillar of democratic policing, adding that constitutional provisions without the operational strength to enforce them are little more than moral poetry.
At the same event, the PSC Chairman, DIG Hashimu Salihu Argungu (rtd), represented by DIG Taiwo Lakanu (rtd), commended the author for her professionalism. He described the book as an invaluable resource for policymakers and security sector practitioners.
The author, Anuli Okoli, noted that her work was inspired by decades of hands-on involvement in police oversight, disciplinary processes, and reform initiatives. The book was reviewed by civil society leader, Dr. Otive Igbuzor, and presented by former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr. Amal Pepple, with Ben Okoye serving as the Chief Launcher.
Senator Victor Umeh, who chaired the occasion, praised Okoli for documenting critical institutional experiences that are essential for meaningful security sector reform in Nigeria.
