Commissioner for Women Affairs & Social Inclusion Advocates Synergy and Collaboration Between the Nigerian Police Force & Her Ministry

The Oyo State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Inclusion on Monday 26th of May advocated continuity in the collaborative working relationship between her Ministry and the Oyo State Police Command.

The Honourable Commissioner;Hon (Mrs) Toyin Balogun, disclosed this while paying a Courtesy & Advocacy call to the new
Oyo State Commissioner of Police, CP Johnson Ademola who was just recently deployed to the state after the retirement of the former Commissioner; CP Shokunbi at the Eleyele Headquarters of the Command in Oyo State.

She lauded the former Commissioner who had displayed utmost professionalism in the discharge of his duties while expressing her belief that the excellent professional collaboration between both levers of governance would continue in the best interest of the Vulnerable and other members of our society

The Commissioner stated that she viewed her Ministry as the Human Face of Government & a Special Purpose Vehicle( SPC) through which the laudable programs, policies and interventions of a People Centric Government impact directly on the citizenry.

She also stated that the mandates of her ministry spans & includes responsibility for Women, Children, the Elderly, the Physically Challenged (the entire broad spectrum of the Vulnerable in society) ,Poverty Alleviation,certain elements of the Security Architecture in the state (Vigilante,Legion etc)and the Community Development (CD) platform spanning the 33 local governments of the state amongst other responsibilities

The Commissioner averred further that there’s no gainsaying the fact that the intelligence gathering network powered by the female demographic in any state enhances the ability of the Police Force to fulfil it’s mandate with respect to upholding National/State security if properly harnessed

Also Hon (Mrs) Toyin Balogun observed that taking into cognizance the nexii between Poverty,Criminality & Insecurity and given the wide and strategic ambits covered by her ministry and the primary responsibility of the Police force for maintaining internal security of the Nation/State,there is a compelling argument for a synergistic collaboration between both organizations

This informs the critical imperative for her advocacy for a continuance of synergy between her Ministry and the Police Force

She sought particularly for support of the Police Force in speedy resolution and prosecution of the many heartbreaking cases of different forms of Gender Based Violence involving women and children (both male & female) which unfortunately,have become rampant in our society

She stated that only a continuation of the synergy between both organizations & the Justice System would send a categoric statement to perpetrators that in Oyo State,under the watch of His Excellency Governor Seyi Makinde & the new Commissioner of Police; Mr Adenola, there is Zero Tolerance for Gender Based Violence

The Commissioner also commended
officers of the force who have been doing their best to stamp out criminality in the state while also recognizing and applauding the Nigerian Police Force as one of the few Employers of Labour who like His Excellency Governor Makinde recognizes that women also posses the,capacity to add value as evidenced by the myriads of female Officers who have been entrusted with strategic positions of leadership within the Force and are doing well

In his response, the Oyo State Commissioner of Police,CP Johnson
Adenola expressed his delight at the visit by the Commissioner & her team.He stated that the Police can not fulfil it’s mandate without support and collaboration from strategic partners and stakeholders.And given the wide ambits covered by the Ministry,which he recognized as a key partner in progress,he re-assured the Honourable Commissioner of continued support and collaboration with the Ministry of Women Affairs in particular and the State Government at large.

He also commended the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Inclusion for her ingenuity,creativity and commitment to improving the welfare of the demographics her ministry is responsible for and for taking the ministry to greater heights.

Both parties gave a commitment to collaborating with utmost professionalism to ensure that the security and interest of the Vulnerable and the entirety of the society at large is protected.

On the Commissioner’s entourage for the visit were;Director Women Programs Ministry of Women Affairs; Mr Diya Ogunjimi, Information Officer of the Ministry; Alhaja Aminat Busari-Adeleje, Hon Romoke Kareem; Supervisory Councillor for Women Affairs Ibadan North LG,Alhaja Shakirat Y.K Abass; Wife of the Babaloja of Oyo State and others.