Management by Objectives (MBO): An Instrument for the Professionalization of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF)

NPF requires a definite model of professional policing. Each nation operates on the model of its political transformation and experience. The dynamics of modern society require a new dimension in police operations and administration. Police duties are getting more volatile and assertive, and continuously evolving. In requiring police to provide protection, and safe environments, police must become better trained in processing and addressing potential risk, hence the need for professionalism. With the overwhelming criminal crisis in the country, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) is challenged to arrest the situation and produce results, timely and technologically in line with social change. To set combative objectives, gain control of the security environment and deliver on their constitutional mandate, the MBO principle of shared objectives and professionalism of the police is hereby suggested. The ‘General Duty’ (GD) and ‘Specialist’ (S) model of policing practice have to be done away with.