Chairman of Police Service Commission (PSC), Mr Solomon Arase, has formed a Retired Officers’ Consultative Forum.

Arase, a former Inspector-General of Police (IGP), announced this at the maiden meeting of the forum on Wednesday in Abuja.

The forum is expected to act as the think tank for Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and PSC for effective security sector reforms.

Arase expressed the belief that the operational knowledge and independence of the Inspector-General of Police should be respected, without also conceding or undermining the oversight powers of the commission on the police force.

He expressed commitment to seeing NPF and PSC working harmoniously for the overall betterment of the force, while focusing on Security Sector Reforms (SSR) through training and retraining.

The former police boss said that the forum was aimed at providing a veritable platform to retired officers to critically examine the contemporary issues and challenges affecting the police force.

“It is to recommend pragmatic and actionable solutions and responses, for optimal functionality of the force in delivering on its mandate,” he said.

According to him, it will also avail the retired officers the opportunity to leverage their experience in offering useful advice to PSC and NPF on policies and measures that will ensure harmonious working relationship between the two institutions.

“It will help to also reposition NPF for greater efficiency and effectiveness in restoring its primacy in internal security in Nigeria.

“The forum will also serve as a platform for eliciting interests for possible recruitment of members who are interested in participating as resource persons in the training programmes of the commission for members of the two institutions.

“It will equally serve as a platform for qualified and competent retired officers for consideration for different appointments,” he said.

Arase noted that the responsibility of rescuing and repositioning the police force was a task that required the participation and involvement of senior citizens.

He added that the future of the force was hanging in the balance, with the ever-changing socio-political dynamics of Nigeria, coupled with the exponential depletion of experienced officers and specialists, occasioned by retirement.

“Consequently, I respectfully invite all of you to join me in this tortuous but great journey of commitment, sacrifice and love for the NPF by getting actively involved in this forum.

“As we progress, programmes and procedures will be availed on how this forum will be administered to achieve our desired goals and objectives,” he added.

Arase said that the forum would avail the retired officers the needed opportunities and platform to give back to the force, saying that his appointment came at a critical time in the life of the police force and the nation in general.

The former police boss pledged to put an end to what he called the unsavoury relationship that had hitherto characterised the police leadership and the commission.