On Wednesday, September 16, President Muhammadu Buhari assented to the Police Bill. The new law replaces its 1943 colonial antecedent which has regulated the Nigeria Police Force for 77 years with several provisions becoming obsolete over time. The Bill was passed by both chambers of the National Assembly by July 2020 and had been awaiting presidential assent for the past several weeks. The Nigeria Police Force (Establishment) Act 2020 seeks to provide for more efficiency in police service. Its provisions complement the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, codifies the Police Complaints Response Unit, provides for mandatory training of officers, as well as a Police Reward Fund. In addition, it promotes the set-up of community policing structures nationwide, a topic that has been on the front burner of the country’s security architecture in recent times. The Act has improved checks on police powers to ensure the protection of human rights.
There had been efforts to review the Police Act since 2004, with slow progress recorded over the years. The current initiative which culminated in the National Assembly passing the Police Bill, is the first time ever that a comprehensive legislative review of the Police Act has been undertaken since its original enactment in 1943. The amendment of this law followed from the investment of enormous resources, time and energy by civil society working together with multiple stakeholders such as the Police leadership, Ministry of Police Affairs and development partners.