The House of Representatives at its plenary session of Tuesday, 15 December 2020, passed for second reading, the Bill seeking to repeal the Police Service Commission Act, 2001 and enact the Police Service Commission Act, 2020.
Leading the debate on the Bill, Hon. Yusuf Adamu Gagdi (APC: Plateau) noted that the Bill provides for the composition and management of the Police Service Commission which shall among others, be responsible for the appointment and discipline of officers of the Nigerian Police Force. The bill also aims to strengthen the Commission to enable improved functionality of its operations.
Hon. Gagdi enumerated the functions and the powers of the Commission in the bill to include:
- Appointment and promotion of persons to offices in the Nigeria Police Force;
- Dismissal and exercise of disciplinary control over persons in the Nigeria Police Force;
- Formulation of policies and guidelines for the appointment, promotion, discipline, and dismissal of officers of the Nigeria Police Force;
- Employment, training, designation and deployment of persons to serve as Investigators in all the State Offices of the Commission;
- Formulation, publishing, and implementation of policies aimed at efficiency and discipline of the Nigeria Police Force;
- Reviewing the terms of reference and operational guidelines of any tactical units set up by the Inspector General of Police;
- Reviewing and updating of the curriculum for training officers of the Nigeria Police Force every three years; and
- Investigation of reports of misconduct by officers of the Nigeria Police Force and imposing disciplinary measures.
In his submissions, he noted that an overhaul of the Police Service Commission through the enactment of a comprehensive legislation will address the administrative challenges within the Commission.
The Bill has been referred to the Committee on Police Affairs for further legislative action.
