Qualities of Police officers Nigeria requires listed by Chairman PSC (see details)

Qualities of Police officers Nigeria requires listed by Chairman PSC (see details)

The Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), retired Deputy Inspector-General of Police Hashimu Argungu, has emphasized the qualities expected of officers in today’s Nigeria, stressing the need for a deep knowledge of the law, police orders, and operational guidelines. He added that efficiency, courtesy, tact, integrity, and impartiality are indispensable attributes for effective law enforcement in the country.

Argungu made this known while addressing participants at a high-level workshop in Abuja, organized by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), development partners, and the governments of Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe States. The workshop focuses on “Ethics, Mental Health and the Future of Policing and Security in Nigeria” with the theme “Command Leadership for Ethical and Trauma-Informed Security Response.”

Retired Deputy Inspector-General of Police and Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), Hashimu Argungu, has cautioned that policing challenges in Nigeria are evolving beyond conventional drivers like unemployment, poverty, and the growing number of out-of-school children. According to him, digital platforms and broader societal dynamics now play a significant role in shaping security threats across the country.

Argungu emphasized the centrality of ethics training in modern law enforcement, noting that it provides the moral compass needed for officers who often exercise wide discretion in enforcing the law. On recruitment, he stressed the necessity of rigorous medical screenings to ensure fitness for duty, listing conditions such as speech defects, poor eyesight, deformities, and limb issues as potential impediments to effective policing.

He further highlighted the toll of stress on officers, pointing to operational risks like trauma and dangerous encounters, organizational problems such as weak leadership and understaffing, and personal pressures ranging from financial struggles to family challenges. These, he warned, could escalate into burnout, substance abuse, or even suicide. Looking ahead, Argungu described social media and technology as double-edged tools—while essential, they can be exploited for propaganda, crime, and the mobilization of hooligans. He urged continuous training for officers to better understand cybercrime and its impact on society and businesses in the digital age.