‘It’ll be a think tank’ — Arase sets up forum for retired officers

Solomon Arase, chairperson of the Police Service Commission (PSC), has set up the retired officers consultative forum to interrogate challenges facing the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

Arase said the forum would act as a think tank for NPF and PSC in security reforms.

Speaking at the launch in Abuja on Wednesday, Arase said the forum would provide the opportunity for retired police officers to give back to the NPF.

The former inspector-general of police said the forum would enhance the “harmonious working relationship” between the PSC and NPF and reposition the force.

“I deemed it necessary to form a community of retired police officers, named retired officers consultative forum,” Arase was quoted in a statement by Ikechukwu Ani, the PSC spokesperson.

“The forum will act as a think tank for the force and PSC through dispassionate interrogation of issues, generation of ideas, and proffering solutions on issues of security sector reforms.

“The forum aims at providing a veritable platform to the retired officers to critically examine contemporary issues and challenges affecting the NPF and recommend pragmatic and actionable solutions and responses, for optimal functionality of the force in delivering on its mandate.”

In March, President Muhammadu Buhari sworn in Arase as the chairperson of the PSC.

Arase retired from the NPF in 2016 after serving as the 18th IGP.