OSUN, Nigeria – The Osun State Police Command issued a stern warning on Monday, July 3, 2023, to government officials against the misuse of police officers attached to them by deploying them for domestic duties.
The command issued a statement articulating its stance, emphasising that police officers are assigned to ensure the safety of public servants and not to serve as domestic aides.
The statement, signed by the police spokesperson, Yemisi Opalola, conveyed the command’s dissatisfaction with the practice of using police orderlies for tasks such as carrying handbags, holding umbrellas, and opening gates for government officials.
The statement reads, “The Osun State Police Command is miffed with consternation the way and manner these personalities use police orderlies attached to them for domestic duties such as carrying hand bags, umbrellas, opening of gate (sic) etc, and wish to state emphatically that the policemen attached to them are meant to protect their lives and property and not serve as domestic servants.”
The command further admonished the police officers attached to government officials to refrain from engaging in “any form of domestic service”.
It stressed that such conduct is unprofessional and unethical, and warned that any police personnel found engaging in these activities would face appropriate sanctions.
The statement urged government officials in need of domestic assistance to employ personal assistants or domestic staff for such services.
This directive from the Osun State Police Command aims to uphold the professional integrity of police officers and ensure that they are exclusively committed to their core duty of providing security for public servants.