Rotimi Agboluaje, Ibadan.
A university don and security expert, Prof. Oyesoji Aremu, has called for a multilevel policing in order in order to stem insecurity in the country.
Aremu, who is a professor of Counseling and Criminal Justice Studies, Institute of Peace and Strategic Studies at the University of Ibadan made the called while delivering his inaugural lecture.
The lecture titled: “The ‘Trinity’ and Missing Mission in Policing” took place at the Trenchard Hall, UI, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
The university teacher with a specialization in policing charged the federal government to immediately declare a state of emergency in the Nigeria Police Force, urging it to begin the enlistment of able-bodied, educated and emotionally intelligent Nigerian youths.
Aremu said the federal police as it is currently obtained should be deregulated to give multilevel policing that would comprise federal, state, local and institution police systems.
He lamented that Nigeria still practices unitary policing, while less countries in Africa have a multilevel policing.
On the conditions of service for police officers, the policing scholar opined that Nigeria Police Force (NPF), through the Police Service Commission ought to improve the welfare of police officers.
“Efforts should be made to get the police to be the way it should. Let them be paid better. Funding is a major issue. Police should not get meagre salaries”, Prof. Aremu said.
Aremu said the police is a reflection of the society, pointing out that if the society is corrupt, the police would be corrupt.
