Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Mohammed Adamu’s display, on Tuesday, of a total lack of understanding of the true meaning and categorisation of ‘essential duty workers’ must have surprised many Nigerians, especially at a time the world is battling to save humanity from the devastation of a pandemic.
The IGP had sternly ordered the police commands not to exempt anybody, including workers on essential duties, when enforcing the ban on interstate and the nationwide curfew.
His directive was to the zonal assistant inspectors-general of police and state commissioners of police, through a virtual conference.
It was therefore not surprising that essential duty workers like healthcare workers and journalists suffered various hardships and indignities when the IGP’s subordinates carried out the directive, thereby making a total mess of their psyche and well-being in their bid to carry out their constitutional and sometimes sacrificial duties.
Some healthcare workers and journalists were prevented from going either to work or to their homes after duties. Most have sad tales about their experiences.
This directive is coming at a time that the nation had been puzzled by the number of killings by security agencies across the land, in an alleged bid to enforce the general lockdown. Indeed, at some point, the number of those killed by security agents outnumbered deaths from COVID-19 infections.
Although the IGP’s directive was later rescinded and an apology rendered by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Chairman of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha, to the affected workers, this should not obliterate the fact that the actions of the Nigerian police and some other security agencies at this time of the pandemic is a pointer to the urgent need for a system check and re-strategising for a better society.
If government exists for the welfare of the people, the paradoxical roles of law enforcement agencies before and during this pandemic must be seriously and holistically addressed to put them back on the right and humane path.
Heads of agencies and all public officers should be made to understand the value chain that makes economies optimally functional. Essential duty workers are those workers who must, in war or peace, render their services for the good of society.
The IGP goofed by including health workers and journalists amongst those whose movements must be restricted due to the lockdown and curfew.
Globally, health workers are being celebrated for their diligence and sacrifices at this time of COVID-19, given the risk they undertake to save lives, including that of the IGP, if need be.
At a time that human lives depend on the best information they can get, barring journalists from being exempted from the curfew could be the best definition for a people dying for lack of knowledge.
All official instructions must have no iota of ambiguity to avoid misapplication. Public officers must realise that words are powerful and their offices confer on them an authority that must not be abused, either through words or actions. Victims of the directives must be properly compensated or specifically apologised to.
The police and other security agencies must begin to work at their human relations to foster a better and more loving society that has value for life and respect for the dignity of the human person, irrespective of their status and profession.
This pandemic period, more than any other even in recent memory, is teaching the global community the value of each individual and profession.
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