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Effective Policing For National Security: How Far Can Mike Okiro’s 13 Welfare Agenda Go? By Emeka Oraetoka
When President Umar Musa Yar-Adua unfolded his Seven [7] points agenda upon assumption of office on May 29 th 2007, that included Security, Nigerians heaved a sigh of relief that the issue of Security of lives and properties will be tackled headlong by his sincere administration.
Upon the appointment of Mike Mbama Okirio as the Inspector General of Police, attention of Nigerians shifted to him as the man who is expected to play a central role in achieving the Security aspect of President Yar-Adua’s seven points program. The reason behind the attention given to Okiro may not be far fetched; there is the general belief in Nigeria that other Police bosses before Okiro did little in terms of security of lives and properties of Nigerians in-spite of heavy promises on assumption of office. So they adopted a wait and see stance as to how Okiro will rejuvenate the Nigerian Police for effective security.
Experts in Management Science, especially the behavioralists, even before assumption of office of Mike Okiro, have held the view that effective policing for National Security goes beyond buying of sophisticated weapons and equipment for police officers to work with. It also goes beyond providing police officers with air-conditioned jeeps, cars and all that. Behavioralists simply reason that the bed rock for effective policing in Nigeria is adoption of a policy that could raise the morale of the rank and file of Nigeria police. This they believe will catapult the output of police officers, hence security. Early managers of men like the great Hannibal, Napoleon Burnapart and Julius Caesar knew the effect of motivation on the morale of their troops and adopted the stand that supports the view that for any manager of men to obtain result from his troop; morale must necessarily be high among the rank and file. This is what Napoleon said about moral generally: “The morale is to the physical as three to one”. This comment was interpreted to mean that Napoleon’s troop’s fighting sprit was crucial in outcome of any battle during his era. With motivated solders, Napoleon believed that he could beat an army three times the size of his own. It therefore follows that for maximum productivity to be obtained in the Police Force, “Man Management” is more than simply important. Juxtaposing the effect of motivation on Napoleon’s troops, with the effect the 13 welfare agenda of Okiro will have on the morale of his men, it could be seen that Okiro is clearly on the right track.
A very critical look at the 13 welfare agenda of Sir Mike Okiro, for officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force, shows vary clearly that Okiro understands in clear terms the problems bedeviling the Police Force. This problem is directly proportional to productivity of the force. High productivity of the Police Force on one hand ensures effective security in Nigeria . In the 13 points agenda, three [3] cardinal motivational approaches in Management Science were employed. One can identify Need Theory, propounded by Abraham Maslow. Frank Herzberg’s Two Factors Theory is also noticeable; just as Equity Theory is visible too.
Okiro’s first point agenda is Frank Herzberg’s extrinsic motivator and could be seen in the increased take home pay of officers of the Police Force. It is no more news that salary of officers and men of the Nigeria Police has increased tremendously. This is sequel to the recommendation of the police reform committee which was graciously approved by President Umar Musa Yar-Ardua. Also, the issue of promotion for deserving police officers occupies a central position in the 13 points agenda. Specifically, one of the agenda is the introduction of a new promotion regime that ensures that police officers do not stagnate on a rank for too long. These are classical extrinsic motivators as espoused by Herzrberg.
On housing for police officers, Okiros’ second point agenda sought to provide comprehensive solution to the problem in accordance with Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. The second welfare agenda explained that “police management headed by Sir Mike Mbama Okiro within 100 days in office has paid a backlog of outstanding police contributions to the national housing fund, which was about N2.4B; this will enable police officers to benefit from the National Housing Programme. The Federal Government has approved the proposal of the IGP on the Police Owners Occupies Housing Scheme. State governments are already donating lands to the Police. This is to ensure that every policeman has home in and out of office”. This part of 13 welfare agenda falls squarely in Maslow’s First Need in his Theory, which is physiological. A police Officer who knows that at the end of his service to the Nation, he will surely have a house on his head, which he can call his own, will put up his best in the service.
Okiro’s third motivational approach is the introduction of Equity Theory in the 13 points agenda. The theory is concerned with the perceptions people have about how they are treated compared with others. This theory states that people will be better motivated if they are treated equitably. The theory is significant in terms of morale. There are two (2) identifiable by types of equity. First is distributive equity which is concerned with fairness, with which people feel they are rewarded in accordance with their contribution and in comparison with others, and procedural equity or procedural justice, which is concern with the perception employees have about the fairness with which procedures in such areas as performance appraisal, promotion and discipline are being operated. It is instructive that out of this 13 points agenda, seven (7) of them have something to do with Equity Theory. This clearly shows that morale in Nigeria Police was completely down before this Mike Okiro’s intervention strategy. For instance, Peace Keeping outside Nigeria was said to be reserved for some “connected” police officers before now.
The effect of inequality as a result of preferential treatment in the Police Force was probably one of the factors responsible for low morale. Promotion on the basis of how “connected” you are was another onslaught on the morale of the Police Force. The alleged bad blood the appointment and rapid promotion of Nuhu Ribadu, the immediate past head of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC], generated in the Force is a cogent point here . The preferential treatment given to Ribadu by the past administration may have affected the morale of the Force, and could just be one of the factors that militated against productivity in the Force during that era. In the same token, some refresher courses hitherto employed by the authorities in the Force, as punishment for police officers, is now a thing of the past according to one of the agenda. It sought to reassure that police officers will henceforth enjoy the privilege of going for refresher courses with the hope that the experience gained from the exercise will enhance his output. This is a clear departure from the past when such is use as basis for punishment.
The task before Mike Okiro, now that he has found the major problem affecting the overall security of lives and properties of Nigerians, is to set up a powerful committee that will ensure strict monitoring of this commendable agenda for the purpose of identifying deviations, with a view to correcting them promptly; otherwise the agenda will go the direction of others before him. Thankfully, Nigeria can boast of quality Behavioral Management Scientists. People like Professor Pita Ejiofor, Senator Suleiman Ajadi could pioneer a good committee that is capable of ensuring the success and sustenance of this agenda.
Emeka Oraetoka Information Management Consultant& Researcher Wrote in from Garki-Abuja e-mail: oramekllis@lycos.com
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