The Interagency Committee, comprising the Ministry of Police Affairs, Police Service Commission and Nigeria Police Force, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), has presented a draft police regulation to the Ministry of Police Affairs for scrutiny and approval by the Honourable Minister.
The presentation was made by the consultant to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Executive Director of Rule of Law and Empowerment Initiative, Kemi Okenyodo, to the management of the Ministry at the Headquarters of the Ministry of Police Affairs in Abuja.
The Permanent Secretary, Dr. Nasir Sani Gwarzo, represented by the Director of Planning Research and Statistics, Mrs. Margarete Azeez, stated that the objective of the Committee was to facilitate and undertake a meticulous and holistic review of the draft Police Regulations before final presentation for adoption and ratification by the Honourable Minister.
The Permanent Secretary said Section 138 of the Nigeria Police Act, 2020, empowers the Minister to make regulations on the recommendation of the Inspector General of Police concerning the policy, organization, and administration of the Police Force, including establishments and financial matters, other than pensions within the meaning of the Pension Reform Act.
In his words, “A review of the Police Regulations has become imperative given that some aspects of its provisions have been overtaken by events, while some other contemplations such as training, need to be aligned with the strategic legal and policy framework on contemporary issues and realities of policing.”
He recalled that since the Police Act of 1943, there has been no comprehensive reform of the Police legislation until 2020, adding that the UNDP Police reform project in Nigeria is aimed at promoting the effectiveness of policing and law enforcement by repositioning and revitalizing the institutional, operational, and reputational posture of the NPF for optimal functionality.
In her presentation, the consultant to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Executive Director of the Rule of Law and Empowerment Initiative, Kemi Okenyodo, pointed out that the advent of the Police Act (2020) has necessitated a consequential modification of the Allied policy and operational instruments that guide the functioning of the Nigeria Police Force, such as the Police Regulation.
According to her, “A review of the Police Regulation is imperative given that events have overtaken some aspects of it, while some other contemplations and textual framing need to neatly align with the strategic embrace of recent legal and policy frameworks that impinge on policing.”
She enumerated areas that need to be reviewed, such as enlistment criteria; female police officers; NPF Gender Policy; job descriptions; discipline; and registers to be kept at the police stations; and code of conduct.
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