Drama in Senate: Oshiomhole, Akintunde Trade Words Over Controversial PSC Institute Bill

Senator Adams Oshiomhole, representing Edo North, has cautioned against turning the Senate into a rubber stamp for redundant institutions.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Oshiomhole voiced his concerns while opposing a bill aimed at establishing a training institute for the Police Service Commission (PSC).

The bill, titled Police Service Commission Training Institute (Establishment) Bill, 2025, was introduced during Thursday’s plenary by Senator Yunus Akintunde (Oyo Central), on behalf of the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Police Affairs, Abdulhamid Mallam-Madori.

Akintunde said, “That the Senate do receive and consider the report of the Committee on Police Affairs on the Police Service Commission Training Institute (Establishment) Bill, 2025 (SB. 564).”

In his response, Oshiomhole challenged the rationale for creating a training institute for the PSC, a commission he described as employing a small number of personnel with limited responsibilities.

The former labour leader and governor argued that the nation’s focus should be on building capacity within the Nigeria Police Force, not the commission that oversees it.

He said, “Mr. President, Sir, this chamber cannot continue to rubber-stamp every proposal. We must exercise caution in approving the proliferation of institutions that serve no real purpose.

“With due respect, I ask: other than the Nigeria Police Force, how many staff does the Police Service Commission have beyond the commissioners who provide oversight? Why should we establish a training institute for a body that may at times not even be operational?

“In the recent past, the PSC was scrapped in favour of the Ministry of Police Affairs. Now both bodies exist—while the ministry handles civil service training, who exactly will the commission be training?

“Our limited resources should be directed toward developing and training police officers, not expanding the PSC’s infrastructure unnecessarily.”

Responding, Senator Akintunde emphasized that the PSC is a constitutionally backed institution that still exists independently of the Ministry of Police Affairs.

He explained, “The Police Service Commission has not been replaced by the Ministry of Police Affairs. The two entities serve distinct roles. Earlier this year, we passed a bill for a police training institute. This proposal is different—it seeks to establish a training institute specifically for the PSC.”

Senator Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central) intervened, pointing out that the bill had already passed through critical legislative stages, including debate and public hearings.

He said, “We must follow due process. The arguments raised by Senator Oshiomhole are valid, but the time for such debates has passed. The bill is now at a point where we consider committee reports, not revisit past debates. If the bill is passed and assented to, amendments can then be proposed.”