IGP Tunji Disu Orders All Police Officers to Wear Name Tags at All Times – Undercover Men Exempted

In a sweeping directive aimed at boosting accountability and public trust, the Inspector General of Police, IGP Tunji Disu, has ordered every police officer in Nigeria to have their name tags visibly displayed on their uniforms at all times. Akahi News can confirm that only undercover personnel are exempted from this new rule.

Akahi News learnt that Disu made the announcement on Tuesday while addressing a gathering of senior police officers. His message was direct and unambiguous: the era of anonymous policing is over – at least for officers in regular uniform.

“All police officers should have their name tags. All of us on the high table have our names apart from the undercover among us so if you look at all the Commissioners of Police we have our name tags, so it’s not our standard,” the IGP declared.

Command Responsibility: Commissioners Must Own Their Jurisdictions

The IGP did not stop at name tags. He went further to remind Commissioners of Police across the federation that they bear ultimate responsibility for every incident that occurs within their areas of command. This is a significant shift from the days when top officers could deflect blame downwards.

“Every thing that happens within their area of jurisdiction falls under their control,” Disu stated firmly.

Akahi News gathered that the meeting was convened precisely to hammer home such accountability measures. The IGP indicated that a list of operational and disciplinary matters had been drawn up for discussion with the Commissioners, and name tags were just one item on a broader agenda of reform.

For the ordinary Nigerian who has ever been stopped at a checkpoint by an officer without any form of identification, this directive will come as welcome news. How many times have citizens been unable to identify the policemen who harassed or extorted them? The name tag is a small thing, but it is a powerful tool for accountability.

State Police: IG Reveals Progress on Federal Government’s Proposal

On the contentious issue of state police, the IGP offered a significant update. According to Disu, the police hierarchy received the signal that the Federal Government intends to establish state police forces across the country. Rather than wait to be pushed, the police leadership decided to take the bull by the horn.

“Since we got the signal that the Federal Government of Nigeria intend to establish State Police and since we are the federal police, we decided to take the bull by the horn and put down our own side of what we believe on how the state police should be run,” he explained.

Akahi News learnt that the police conducted extensive comparative analysis, looking at how state police operate in other federations. A lot of factors were taken into consideration – funding, command structure, oversight mechanisms, and potential conflicts with federal police. The resulting framework has already been transmitted to the National Assembly for legislative action.

This is a major development. For years, the debate over state police has been fought along ideological and ethnic lines. Now, the police themselves have weighed in. Whether the National Assembly will adopt their recommendations is another matter entirely.

What Does This Mean for Ordinary Nigerians?

The name tag directive, if strictly enforced, could dramatically improve civilian-police relations. A named officer is a accountable officer. When a citizen can identify a policeman by name, the likelihood of arbitrary arrest, extortion, or brutality decreases. The officer knows that a complaint can be specifically lodged against him or her.

But here is the challenge that every Nigerian knows too well: directives from Abuja are often ignored at the local level. Will the IGP back up this order with inspections, sanctions, and dismissals? Or will it become yet another circular that gathers dust in police stations across the country?

Akahi News believes that the IGP must follow through with consequences. Any officer found on duty without a name tag – except undercover operatives – should face immediate disciplinary action. Without enforcement, this directive is merely a press release.

On the state police front, Nigerians have waited decades for this conversation to move beyond talk. The fact that the police have submitted a framework to the National Assembly is encouraging. But the National Assembly must now act. And any state police structure must include robust civilian oversight to prevent the creation of regional political militias.

A Philosophical Reflection on Policing and Trust

There is a simple truth that no amount of technology or weaponry can replace: policing is a relationship. When citizens trust the police, crimes are reported, witnesses come forward, and communities cooperate. When citizens fear the police, they hide information, settle scores privately, and the rule of law retreats.

The name tag is a small but powerful symbol. It says: “I am not faceless. You can hold me accountable.” That is a good start. But it is only a start. Nigerians want police officers who protect, not extort. Who investigate, not intimidate. Who serve, not rule.

Akahi News calls on the IGP to go further. Beyond name tags, there must be body cameras, complaint hotlines that actually work, and a culture where rogue officers are fired and prosecuted, not merely redeployed to punish another community.

As for state police, the debate is no longer about whether – but how. The IGP has offered his blueprint. Now the National Assembly must deliberate, and the Nigerian people must be heard. Whatever structure emerges must be designed to protect citizens, not regimes. Because at the end of the day, the police belong to the people. It is time they started acting like it.

📌 Key Summary Box – What You Must Know

• ✔ IGP Tunji Disu has ordered all police officers to wear visible name tags on their uniforms at all times. Only undercover personnel are exempted.
• ✔ The IGP stated that Commissioners of Police are fully responsible for every incident within their jurisdictions.
• ✔ On state police, Disu revealed that the police leadership has conducted comparative analysis and submitted a framework to the National Assembly.
• ✔ The police decided to “take the bull by the horn” rather than wait for the federal government to impose a structure without their input.
• ✔ The name tag directive aims to boost accountability and make it easier for citizens to identify officers who abuse their authority.
• ✔ For Nigerians: This directive is a positive step, but enforcement is key. Without sanctions, it will remain a paper policy. On state police, the National Assembly must now act on the police’s recommendations.