The Police Act (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill has scaled second reading in the House of Representatives. Presenting the Bill at the plenary session of Wednesday, 26th February 2020, the sponsor of the Bill Hon. Yusuf Gagdi (APC: Plateau) stated that the Bill seeks to provide a framework for the Nigeria Police Service; ensure cooperation and partnership between the Police and communities in maintaining peace and combatting insecurity in Nigeria.
Leading the debate on the Bill, Hon. Gagdi stated that the Bill was intended to address the challenges of structuring, appointments, promotions, discipline, postings, living conditions, pension and retirement benefits of the Nigeria Police Force as identified in the Principal Act. He also stated that the Bill was necessitated by the alarming spate of insecurity and criminality in the country whose negative effects on the economy and socio-political development of Nigeria is well documented.
Speaking further, he stated that the 2019 edition of the Global Peace Index (GPI), placed Nigeria among the five least where according to the report Nigeria ranked 148th among 163 Independent for the second year in the row, having attained the same unenviable position in 2018.
Hon. Gagdi further noted the objectives of the Bill to include the following in his submissions:
- Provision of specific objectives that allows for a more efficient and effective Police service;
- Ensuring that the fundamental human rights of persons in police custody are protected;
- Proposing amendments in respect to the Appointment, Removal, and Tenure of the Inspector General Police (IGP);
- Defining the limit of powers and functions of the IGP;
- Increasing the number of persons responsible for the assignment and deployment of Commissioners of Police (CPs) to various States.
- Establishing Community Police Forums and Boards by CPs of each State; and
- Prohibiting gender discrimination in the Nigerian Police Force.
Lastly, he drew the attention of the House to a prior attempt by the 8th Assembly to pass the Bill which was unsuccessful in the House of Representatives due to controversies surrounding the provisions on appointment, tenure, and dismissal of the IGP.
Supporting the Bill Hon. Bamidele Salam (PDP: Osun) stated the Bill was coming at the best time giving the issues Nigerians are facing in the country and expressed regret that the country was operating a law that was enacted in 1943 while expecting to deal with the present-day realities.
The Bill was adopted by lawmakers after which it was referred to the Committee on Police Affairs. The Speaker of the House of Representatives Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila (APC: Lagos) also urged the Committee to fastrack the Bill.
