CHALLENGES OF INDISCIPLINE IN THE NIGERIA POLICE AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR NATIONAL SECURITY

Abstract

As an important arm in governance and social control, attention has been focused on the police. Corruption, inadequate funding, poor governance, and public attitude to the police force, under-staffing, and inadequate training have been identified by scholars and policymakers as major problems of the Nigerian Police. However, little has been done on indiscipline in the Nigeria Police in relations to these challenges. This study examined the linkages of indiscipline with these issues and their implications on national security management in Nigeria. Quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection and analysis were used in the study. Qualitative data were generated through in-depth interviews and focus group discussions (FGD). Quantitative data were obtained through a structured questionnaire. Three hundred copies of the questionnaire were administered in the sample areas randomly selected from the six geo-political zones in the country and two hundred and eighty (86.7%) were successfully retrieved and were augmented with data collected through interviews and focus group discussions with top echelons in the police, junior officers and the ranks and files, traditional rulers, civil societies, police service commission chairman etc. Frequency count percentages and Pearson chi-square were employed to analyze the result. The Nigerian Police Force has not been able to contribute effectively and efficiently to the maintenance of national security of Nigeria because of indiscipline. There is lot of laxity, insolence and disrespect among men and officers of the Nigerian Police. Corruption, inadequate funding, poor training, and interference of governments in Police duties, under-staffing and poor training are results of circumvention of standards. Rules and orders stipulated by the Nigeria Police Acts and provisions by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria are not adhered to. This results in their dismal performance. Greater percentage (69.9%) of the Nigerian populace are not satisfied of the increasing impairment of the police effectiveness (?2 = 28.805; df = 2; P < 0.05) and its severe implications on national security (?2 = 11.877; df = 2; P < 0.05). Other factors such as non-conducive working environment, lack of motivation, erroneous perception of national security from coercive force perceptive contributes to unsatisfactory performance by the Nigeria Police. Also communication gap existing between the police and the general public makes security to be seen by the public as purely police affairs. Lack of motivation, under-staffing, poor attitude to the police force, corruption, poor governance, inadequate funding, non-conducive working environment, and poor training are all outcomes of indiscipline. The communication gap between police and general public should be blurred. Furthermore, the police force and general public must be sensitized and reoriented on what constitute national security. This will result in effective and efficient management of security in Nigeria. The prospect of effective and efficient policing of Nigeria lies in addressing indiscipline jointly by the government, the Police Force and the general public. Massive orientation of the police personnel and general public on implications of indiscipline on national security is urgent.