Senators push for state police

Posted by admin Legislature, Senate Thursday, November 24th, 2011

BY HENRY UMORU, INALEGWU SHAIBU
Abuja – Senators have asked the Federal Government to decentralise the Nigeria Police to include community and state police.

The senators expressed their views during the second reading of a bill for an Act to establish and regulate the Nigeria Police Service, which also proposes to remove the prosecuting powers of police officers.

Senate Leader, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, who led the debate, said the bill seeks to establish a service-oriented modern police unit that will correct the many anomalies associated with today’s policing in the country.

He said: “The general idea behind this bill is the establishment of a service- oriented modern police that will meet globally- acceptable policing standards in a democratic setting to replace the current police force which was conceptualised and established by the colonial environment more to protect the colonial interest than to protect and safeguard Nigerian citizens.

Senator Ndoma-Egba further enumerated the highlights of the bill to include renaming of the Nigeria Police Force to Nigeria Police Service, allowing attorney- generals of states to be members of the police council, instead of state governors and criminalise drinking of alcoholic drinks by police officers while on duties.

According to Ndoma-Egba, “Section 5 which seeks to establish for Nigeria a Police organization to be known as the Nigeria Police Service to replace the Nigeria Police Force, thereby removing the colonial vestiges of the police, making the police more responsive to modern day policing in an independent nation.

“Substituting governors with Attorney-Generals will ensure full and effective representation of the states in the council as governors are usually too busy to attend council meeting personally and attorney generals will bring their legal knowledge to bear on deliberations.

“Section 24(2) of the bill forbids a police officer from being the prosecutor in a matter that he or she participated to promote and respect the principles of natural justice and allow for a free and fair trial.

“Section 51 particularly criminalizes drinking while on duty of any intoxicating liquor. This provision is intended to prevent the abuse of weapons by a drunken Police Officer.”

Some of the Senators that spoke during the debate were confident that the bill will reorganize the police in line with modern standards.

Senator Chris Ngige, ACN Anambra argued in favour of creating police noting that states government have long being funding the present police.

His words, “State should be allowed to participate in their own policing. It has become imperative because it is common in many states to the extent that governors fund police up to about 70 percent.”

Senator Hienekin Lokpobiri, PDP, Bayelsa while supporting the bill said, “Highly desirable because it will provide new architect that will bring our police to modern time and provide framework that will make police relate well with the Nigeria people. It is desirable because it forbids the police from being a prosecutor. The police are not trained to be prosecutors; this is work for the lawyers so I am in support of the bill.

According to Senator Babjide Omoworare ACN Osun, said states should be allowed to set up their own police because Nigeria’s population is too large to be effectively policed by the current Police.

“A police of 360000 personnel cannot provide security for 160 million people. There is need for state police. There is need for genuine community police in Nigeria,” he argued.

Senate President, David Mark, who ruled on the bill called for the reorientation of the Nigeria Police

-Vanguardwp_posts