August 25, 2025 – The Police Service Commission (PSC) on Monday, 25th August 2025, received a Presidential delegation led by Hadiza Bala Usman, Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination and Head of the Central Results Delivery Coordination Unit.
The delegation visited the PSC headquarters for an engagement meeting with the leadership of the Commission to identify areas of support required for effective service delivery.
The meeting was part of ongoing government efforts to strengthen institutions and improve accountability in security administration.
Chairman of the Commission, DIG Hashimu Argungu (rtd) mni, who led the PSC team, highlighted the challenges facing the Commission. He noted that the PSC is presently confronted with inadequate funding as well as attempts by various interests to hijack its constitutional mandate.
According to him, the Commission is grossly underfunded and incapable of efficiently carrying out its responsibilities of police recruitment, promotion, and discipline. He explained that the situation is worsened by the struggle of different actors attempting to dilute the efficiency and effectiveness of the body.
Argungu stressed that the Commission remains committed to accountability and transparency, which he described as essential for building a Police Force that is ready for 21st-century policing.
He identified key areas where the PSC needs urgent support, including inadequate staff returns from the Nigeria Police Force, institutional conflicts, limited nationwide presence, funding shortfalls, and a deficit in public trust.
“One of the key problems the Police Service Commission is facing is unnecessary interference into its constitutional and statutory mandate,” he said.
He appealed to the Central Results Delivery Coordination Unit to help the Commission resist these interferences and ensure it is able to carry out its duties independently.
The PSC Chairman also raised concerns over the envelope budgetary system, which he said restricts the Commission’s access to funds. He argued that the system creates a ceiling in the budgeting process, limiting resources for the Commission’s core functions.
He recommended an independent budgeting process for the PSC that would allow it to submit its budget directly to the Presidency.
Quoting the PSC Act of 2001, Section 15(1), he said, “The Act mandates the Commission to submit its estimate of expenditure and income during the next succeeding year, not later than 30th September in each year to the President.” He insisted that this provision should be respected to give the Commission the autonomy required to deliver on its constitutional mandate.
Responding, Ms. Hadiza Bala Usman assured the Commission of the delegation’s support. She pledged to work towards ensuring that the PSC is allowed to function without interference.
“We will look at your mandate and will ensure you are allowed to do your work. We will de-bottleneck the problems and we will have a PSC that stands alone and not an attachment of any Ministry,” she stated.
She further explained that the purpose of the visit was to strengthen collaboration between the Police Service Commission and the Ministry of Police Affairs, while clarifying the role of the PSC in advancing the President’s priority of strengthening national security for peace and prosperity.
The PSC team present at the meeting included Justice Paul Adamu Galumje (JSC rtd), Honourable Commissioner representing the Judiciary, DIG Taiwo Lakanu (rtd) fdc, Honourable Commissioner representing the Police, and Chief Onyemuchi Nnamani, Secretary to the Commission.