PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan yesterday constituted a ministerial committee to produce a white paper on the report of the Presidential Committee on the Re-organisation of the Nigeria Police, which was submitted on Tuesday.

Members of the committee include the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Adoke (Chairman); Minister of Police Affairs, Caleb Olubolade; Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Olajumoke Akinjide and the Minister of the Niger Delta, Godsday Orubebe.

Besides, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Abubakar yesterday approved the redeployment of 10 senior police officers. Among them is the Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG) Philemon Leha.

Olubolade who confirmed the constitution of the panel, also spoke on the call by the Presidential Committee for the scrapping of the Ministry of Police Affairs, saying that the committee, headed by the Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Inspector-General of Police Parry Osayande (rtd), may have gone beyond its brief in making the call .

Olubolade, who spoke in defence of retaining the status quo in the Ministry of Police Affairs, said that the Osayande committee was constituted to reorganize the police, adding that “any issue discussed outside that can be termed to be a derailment. Whatever assignment is given, you must look at the subject matter and stay within that confines so that it does not generate unusual discussion in the public.”

The minister told journalists at the end of the Federal Executive Council meeting that “the critical issue in our country today is about the insecurity in the land and you know Mr. President is very passionate about how we can quickly address this so that the police will be able to police Nigeria effectively and protect lives and property. As a result of that, Mr. President set up a committee led by Parry Osayande to re-organise the police. That committee should not be misconstrued or should not be confused with the earlier committee set up by the president to re-organise the ministries and restructure ministries and parastatals.

“What happened yesterday (Tuesday) was that this committee headed by Parry Osayande submitted its report to the president. Incidentally, in the same vein, the retired Inspectors-General of Police paid a visit to the president. Somehow, it got into the limelight that this issue of scrapping the Ministry of Police Affairs became an issue. But the assignment given to that panel was to look at how the police can be professionalized and reorganized.

“This committee will look at this report and advise the government accordingly and I think it is nice to wait for the outcome of that. The issue of scrapping the Ministry of Police Affairs, if it is in the report, will be looked at. And if it is not part of the assignment given, that also will be seen. It is usually very nice to wait for the outcome of a report that is submitted rather than disclosing that report to the public because in one way, it may mislead the public and that will not be in the interest of Nigerians. I will urge you to wait for the report of the committee that has been set up by the president to produce a white paper on the report.”

Olubolade stated that those calling for the scrapping of the Ministry of Police Affairs may not have looked at the whole picture.

According to him, “I want to say categorically that it is very easy to look at the situation on ground. We have a Ministry of Defence. The Ministry of Defence exists comprising the Army, Navy and Air Force. They all report to the Minister of Defence. All their budgetary provisions go through that line and the political head for them is the Minister of Defence. So also is the Ministry of Police Affairs. But the issue is that the assignment given is to look at how the police can be reorganized, the aspect of finance can come in any other form but the assignment is to look at how the police can become more professional.

“There are budgetary provisions for the police. There is a regular budget and reform budget. Those are the two budgetary provisions for the police. The police on their own award contracts and the ministry approves payment. And in such a manner, they are all involved. The police are involved in their own budgetary dispensation. The ministry does not award contracts on behalf of the police except in capital budgets. All operational provisions are managed by the police themselves. And so, without prejudice to the report that has been submitted, the committee will look at it and bring out a white paper.”

http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=95767:jonathan-raises-white-paper-panel-on-police-reform-report&catid=1:national&Itemid=559

HNosegbe:
Olubolade who confirmed the constitution of the panel, also spoke on the call by the Presidential Committee for the scrapping of the Ministry of Police Affairs, saying that the committee, headed by the Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Inspector-General of Police Parry Osayande (rtd), may have gone beyond its brief in making the call.

Olubolade, who spoke in defence of retaining the status quo in the Ministry of Police Affairs, said that the Osayande committee was constituted to reorganize the police, adding that “any issue discussed outside that can be termed to be a derailment. Whatever assignment is given, you must look at the subject matter and stay within that confines so that it does not generate unusual discussion in the public.”

How convenient. Ol' Gee doesn't wanna lose his job, eh?

Can someone educate us on how a white paper differs from a report, and why two different committees are required for them?