The Nigerian Police Force has promoted 21,039 junior officers.

The mass promotion, which is for those last promoted on or before 2017 comes a few weeks after some officers threatened to embark on strike action over poor condition of service.

Force Spokesman Olumuyiwa Adejobi in a statement on Thursday in Abuja said the promotion exercise was approved by the Inspector-General of Police (I-GP), Usman Baba.

He said the junior officers promoted were 20,572 Sergeants to the next rank of Inspector, 324 Corporals to Sergeants, and 143 Constables to the rank of Corporal.

Mr Adejobi said the promotion was part of ongoing efforts to improve the welfare, conditions of service, as well as boosting the morale of personnel, to enhance efficiency.

He also said that it was part of the I-GP’s manpower development drive to ensure that deserving officers were promoted accordingly.

The police spokesman said the idea was to encourage hard work and further promote the culture of merit, excellence, and dedication to duties.

Mr Adejobi said the Force’s high command was liaising with the Police Service Commission on the release of the promotions of senior police officers.

He said the I-GP had given the assurance that the promotion would be approved and released soon.

According to Mr Adejobi, the I-GP had commended the newly promoted officers for their resilience and invaluable commitment to duties, while urging them to see their promotions as a call for renewed zeal, vigour, patriotism to duty, and rededication to professional policing standards. 

(NAN)