The Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC) has come under fire for directing all police officers from the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) and above who are due for promotion to travel to Abuja to write a promotion examination. 

SaharaReporters learnt that the move has been described by police officers as "useless and insensitive" and has raised concerns about the potential suffering and hardship it may cause for the police officers involved.

According to sources, thousands of police officers will have to abandon their duties and travel to Abuja for the exam, without any allowances for transport and accommodation. 

They also raised concerns about the risk of accidents and kidnappings on Nigeria's bad roads.

One of the sources questioned, "What is happening in the NPF again? Will the suffering of police officers ever enough or reduced? Chairman PSC stop it. 

"How can the Chairman of the Police Service Commission issue an order that all police officers from the rank of ASP and above who are due for promotion should abandon their work all over country to travel to Abuja to write a promotion examination. 

"This is the most insensitive directive ever issued by an occupant of that office. This has never been done before. Before now It has always been Commissioners of Police and above who attend such exams and interviews."

The source feared that the exam could be used as an avenue for corruption, with staff of the PSC potentially collecting bribes from officers."

Another source expressed optimism that the gathering of police officers for the exam may also provide an opportunity for them to discuss and plan a proposed police strike action.

Describing the PSC's order as "crazy and insensitive", the source questioned: "Thousands of Police officers will abandon their offices and duties to travel to Abuja for this uncalled for exam/interview. Nobody is going to pay the officers allowances for transport and accommodation. 

"The risk of accidents/kidnappers on our bad roads in the country has not been thought of. This exam/ interview is an avenue for corruption for the staff of the PSC who will be conducting the exams. They will use the opportunity to collect bribes from officers. 

"These insensitive and unthoughtful exams will bring suffering, pains, discomfort, untold hardship for poor Police officers all over the country. Such gathering and suffering encountered will be an easy avenue to discuss and plan the proposed Police strike action being planned."

To mitigate these challenges, the sources suggested that the PSC should decentralise the exam and hold it at zonal headquarters across the country, with board members and directors supervising the process. 

This they said would reduce the burden on police officers and minimise the risks associated with traveling to Abuja.

"The solution to all this is rather for the Chairman PSC to decentralise such an exam/ interview to be held at each Zonal Hqtrs spread across the country with PSC Board members and Directors supervising them. That is if the exam is really necessary. This is because people see the exam as just a routine process," one of the sources said.

The criticism of the PSC's directive highlights the need for the commission to consider the welfare and well-being of police officers, who are already facing numerous challenges in the line of duty. 

The President and the National Assembly have been urged to intervene and call the Chairman of the PSC to order, to prevent any further hardship and suffering for police officers.