STRUCTURE OF THE NIGERIAN POLICE FORCE

INTRODUCTION

The Nigeria Police Force has come a long way from the ‘Military Police’ of the British Police to the sophisticated Police of today employing a large number of personnel with special branches and qualifications for the office in this unit we shall examine the law establishing the Nigeria Police Force, the organization and levels of command. Unlike united States of America where the police is divided into local, state and federal police, here in Nigeria there is only one police force for the whole country though there are state commands, but only controlled and mobilized centrally. We shall examine the structure and organization of the Nigerian Police under this Unit with a view to having a better understanding of their operational activities and limits of their powers.

The Nigeria Police Council

The Nigeria Police Council was established under the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as a Federal Executive body by virtue of the 3rd schedule, part 1 and S27 and 28. The Nigeria Police Council (NPC) comprise of the following members

1. The President who shall be the chairman. 
2. The Governor of each state of the Federation. 
3. Chairman of the Police Service commission. 
4. The Inspector General of Police. 
5. The major functions of the council are three fold, these are 
6. The organization and administration of the Nigeria Police Force and all other matters relating thereto. 
7. The general supervision of the Nigeria Police Force and; 
8. Advising the President on the appointment of the Inspector General of Police. 

The council however does not have the power over matters relating to the use and operational control of the Force or the appointment, disciplinary control and dismissal of members of the force. You may note that consultation with the council on appointment of the IGP also includes removal from office.

The constitutional provisions was also re-enacted in S 9 of the Police Act (cap. P19, laws of the Federation 2004). The Police Act further provides that the permanent secretary in the Police Affairs office in the presidency shall be the secretary to the council, while the secretariat of the council shall be in the police Affairs office in the presidency.

Police Service Commission

The Police Service Commission (PSC) was established under the constitution by virtue of 3rd schedule, part 1, as a Federal Executive Body, S 29 thereof. The PSC is constituted by a chairman, and such number of other persons, not less than seven. The NPC is also responsible for the confirmation of officers on completion of probationary period. See S 65 of Nigeria Police Regulations.

The Nigeria Police Council is also saddled with the power to advise the President to authorize the IGP as the prescribed authority to do the following;

1. Setting up of new police area commands, districts and divisions, and for the closure of police area commands, districts and divisions. 
2. Setting up new police stations, regarding of police stations and police posts. 
3. Setting up new police formations generally and their closure, 
4. Fixing of personnel establishments for police formations. 

But not more than nine as may be prescribed by an Act of the National Assembly.

The commission is empowered to appoint persons to offices (other than the office of the IGP. When is the duty of the Council), they also have power to dismiss or exercise disciplinary control over persons holding any office within the force. They are also responsible for promotion, and general welfare of the force personnel. All establishment matters are to be referred to the commission.

 Inspector General of Police

The office of the IGP was established under the constitution and he shall be appointed by the President on the advise of the Nigeria Police Council..

The IGP you may note can only be appointed from among the serving members of the Nigeria Police Force, and so cannot be an outsider.

The functions and duties of the IGP are as follows: -

The entire NPF is under the command of the IGP.

Receives direct lawful instructions from the president or minister of Police Affairs with respect to the maintenance and securing of public safety and public order as he may consider necessary, and he must comply with such orders or cause them to be complied with.

The IGP is charged with the Supreme Command of the Force and with the maintenance of public safety and public order.

He gives report called the Annual Police Report to the President on activities carried out doing the year, and if approved must be published in the official publication of the Nigeria Police.

The IGP prepares detailed orders governing the duties of any duty post not contained in the Police regulations.
The territorial boundaries and area of responsibility of each police station shall be determined by the IGP; he is also responsible for territorial adjustments and boundaries as the occasion demands.

The IGP subject to the approval of the president in writing many delegate any of his powers to his subordinates.

General Administration

For ease of Administration, the Nigeria Police Force is divided into Police Area Commands or Force territorially.

The office of the IGP is referred to as the Force Headquarters now situate at the Federal Capital Territory Abuja. The Whole country is divided into zones comprising one or more states headed by an assistant Inspector General of Police. Each State is also an area command or State Force Headquarters for the purpose of command and administration and a headed by a commissioner of police or not below Assistant Commissioner of police.

State is divided into area commands called police Area Commands headed by a superior police officer not below the rank of Assistant Commander and designated as Area Commander. Each Area Command as sub-divided territorially into police districts and police divisions headed by Divisional Police Officer (DPO) not below rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police.

Police Divisions is also sub-divided into Police stations areas. Normally police station areas may not be further sub-divided, but where this is expedient, a police post or village post may be set up as reporting and patrol centers within the police station. The D.P.O shall not be below the rank of assistant superintendent of police. A police district shall be commanded by an officer not below the rank of inspector and is designated as district police Officer. The command of the police station shall be subject to the control of officer in charge of the station who shall not be less the rank of sub inspector; while a police post is commanded by an officer not below the rank of corporal.

FORCE HEADQUARTERS

Force Headquarters has been further divided into departments as follows: -

1.  ‘A’ Department – Finance and Administration consisting; (i) Administrative branch (ii) Secret Registrar Branch (iii) Personnel Branch and (iv) Welfare Branch 
2.  ‘B’ Department – Operations consisting of (i) Operations Branch (ii) Traffic Branch ,Force Signals .Force Mechanical Workshops Transport Branch ,Marine Branch and; ,Force Animals Branch
3.  ‘C’ Department – Logistics and Supply consisting of; (i) Supply Branch (ii) Works Branch 
4.  ‘D’ Department (Federal Bureau of Investigation and Intelligence) consisting of; (i) Investigations Branch (ii) Technical Aids to Investigation (C.I.D) C.I.D training Branch ,Interpol Branch ,Fingerprints Branch ,Central Registry Branch and; Central Registry of Offenders Branch ,The force training Department, 
5. ‘G’ Department Public Relations consisting of; Press and Publication Branch ,Employee Information Branch ,Community Relations and Publicity Branch Complaints Bureau 

All the departments except the ‘G’ departments is headed by Deputy Inspector General of Police. Whilst the ‘G’ department may be headed by officer of the rank of assistant commissioner of police and above.

RANKS OF THE FORCE AND PRECEDENCE

1.  Inspector General 
2. Deputy Inspector General 
3. Assistant Inspector General 
4.  Commissioner 
5. Deputy Commissioner 
6. Assistant Commissioner 
7.  Chief Superintendent 
8. Superintendent 
9. Deputy Superintendent 
10.  Assistant Superintendent (Substantive rank) 
11.  Assistant Superintendent (On Probation or trial) 
12.  Cadet Assistant Superintendent 

FORCE INSPECTORATE RANK

1.  Chief Inspector 
2. Inspector (Substantive) 
3. Inspector (Probation) 
4. Cadet Inspector (2nd 6 months of training) 
5. Cadet Inspector (1st six months of training) 
6.  Sergeant 
7.  Corporal 

 CONCLUSION

The Nigeria Police Force being a creation of the constitution has a long history and cannot fulfill its constitutional role unless properly organized in order to meet its constitutional duties. In terms of territorial coverage, the country seems to be fully covered police wise, but in actual practice it is not, most villages hamlets and settlements do not feel any police presence at all and where they are the unnecessary long bureaucracy blocked quick response to areas where immediate actions is required.

 SUMMARY

In this unit we have been able to trace the general structure, organization and administration of the Nigerian Police. The powers and responsibilities of the Police Council and that of the Police Commission. The role of the Inspector General and the administration of the Force Headquarters. We have also looked at the territorial division of Nigeria into territories for easy and efficient policing, the adequacy is another matter. The ranks and precedence of the police is also examined as part of administrative hierarchy of the Police and level of control.