As part of efforts aimed at repositioning the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), The Commissioner of Police, Federal Capital Territory, Bennett Igweh has been commended for revolutionizing the Force with the Monitoring and Mentoring unit.
A governance and self-reliance advocate, Light Shedrack who gave the commendation, said the Monitoring and Mentoring unit of the Commissioner’s office has created a strategy to reposition the Police Force and endear the people to a Force that many Nigerians hitherto disdained.
Shedrack stated that “before now, what we mostly knew about the police was the Monitoring Unit which we usually ascribed as the ‘hitman’ arm of the commissioner’s office.
“There seems a new vision and concept that would clear this perennial misconception if holistically sustained and that is the ‘Mentoring’ in the monitoring unit. ”
Narrating his recent experience, Shedrack said: “A few weeks ago, I was invited by the commissioner of police, FCT Bennett Igweh through the Monitoring and Mentoring Unit (MMU) of his office over a petition filed by a government functionary against our organisation. My organisation had written an FOI letter requesting clarification of certain allegations against the government officer.
“On arrival, there was absolute civility. I started the discussion. “Did you say mentoring in your call?” I curiously quizzed again.
“The gentleman answered in the affirmative and explained that the unit was not only about inviting, and arresting, it also offers mentoring and reconciliatory support services to the public. I was taken aback because, in the history of the force, we have been wired to think that the Nigeria Police is synonymous with threat, brutality and coercion. While the discussion lasted, I was offered a table of water.
“Each visitor was given one also. In all my experiences with Nigerian police, I have not witnessed that level of civility and professional conduct.
“During an interface with the commissioner and the petitioner, the commissioner made it clear that I was right to ask the questions I did, but that our organisation rather went far with the tone of my letter. He described the ‘enquiry’ as rather a verdict and asked how I would feel if someone wrote to me in such a tone.
“I was enthused at the counsel and frankly, my flaming ego began to melt. Reconciliatory steps were initiated, and counselling was given.”
