COV/MUHAMMAD TSIBIRI, ABUJA
Speaker House of Representatives, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, says the ninth Assembly will prioritize recruitment, training and funding of the Nigeria Police force in it’s legislative agenda.
He made the statement while declaring open a public hearing on bills seeking for amendment of laws establishing the police service commission and the national institute for police service.
Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, explained that the bills were the first attempt to institute an independent system for holding erring Police officers to account for abuse of power and related misconduct in office.
“It is a commitment against which our tenure in office will be measured. When the time for assessment and judgment comes, we must not be found wanting. The Nigerian people deserve a police force that they can trust.
The Speaker also confirmed that the Bills if properly amended would increase minimum requirement into the constabulary and allow for the recruitment of more qualified candidates into the Nigerian Police force.
In a remark, Minister of police affairs, Alh Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, said the proposed bills were timely in view of the highly disciplined police officers the service wa6 identifying on daily basis in the country.
Alh Maigari Dingyadi, however, observed that a section of the draft bills have removed the powers of the President to remove the Chairman and members of the police service commission leaving only the power of members to resign at their own time.
He further questioned section of the Bills that gives responsibility for recruitment of constables into the police force and recruitment of cadets into the police academy in the hands of the Inspector General of Police.
Also Speaking, the Inspector General of Police, Muhammad Adamu while adopting the ministry’s position on the bills, says a seasoned technocrat is needed to head the police service commission
Earlier, the Chairman House Committee on police affairs, Bello Usman Kumo urged the stakeholders to make meaningful contributions that would reform the Nigeran police for effective service delivery.