Former IG says police have 20,000 personnel shortfall

Mike Okiro, the Chairman, Police Service Commission, says the Nigeria Police Force have a shortfall of 20,000 personnel as at 2015.

He made this known while speaking to State House correspondents after the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Police Affairs, Dr James Obiegbu, the Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase, and himself briefed President Muhammadu Buhari on the activities of the ministry.

"We briefed the president on the needs and challenges the organisation is facing.

"We briefed him on the successes recorded so far, we briefed him on how and things to be done to ensure that the security of Nigeria is maintained and all are assured.

"We talked about recruitment of police officers.

"Over the years, more than 21,000 police officers have retired, some dismissed, some died between 2010 and today.

"Of this number, only about 1,605 have been replaced giving a deficit of a very large number.’’

Okiro recalled that Buhari had recently announced that the police will embark upon the recruitment of 10,000 personnel, adding that the delegation also discussed the modalities for the recruitment with him.

He said the measure is to maintain and upgrade the security of the nation, adding that the Nigeria Police Force is in the process of refurbishing its obsolete vehicles to ease operations.

The chairman said that the president has given the assurance that the police will be encouraged, funded and equipped within the provision of the budget to make sure that Nigerians were provided with adequate security.

Okiro, however, said that the responsibility of the commission did not accommodate the issue of pension of retired officers, but rather those of the personnel in service.