There is a glimmer of hope for the Nigerian youth as the bill for the repeal and re-enactment of the Police Act of 1943 has scaled through second reading on the floor of the Nigerian senate in a major milestone towards the reform of the police being clamoured for in the public space.
The development occurred following last week’s resolution on the floor of the senate to direct its constitutional review committee to put machinery in place to amend the constitution so as to allow for the creation of state police as well as the mandate that then police reform bill must be passed within the next two weeks.
The current Police Act of 1943 under which the present structure of the Nigeria Police force operates has not been amended in seventy years; this repeal and re-enactment is an attempt to reform the police to meet the current challenges of a developing country.
Although it is not yet Uhuru yet, it is certainly the move that members of the Nigerian public have been waiting for. The Nigeria Police has always ranked low in the Amnesty International Human right index and is notorious for extra judicial killings, flagrant abuse of the rule of law and a willing tool in the hands of politicians.
Recently the End SARS movement was formed by concerned Nigerians to checkmate the constant abuse of authority by men of the Nigeria Police force in general and the SARS command across the country in particular. Cyber space is filled with evidence and materials indicting officers and men of the Nigeria Police force in abuses and extra judicial killings; a recent case being the female youth corps member shot dead by a police officer several hours to her Passing out Parade (POP).
The Highlights of the Bill include;
- The establishment of a service oriented and modern police that will meet globally acceptable policing standards in a democratic setting
- The modernization of the current police force (originally established to protect colonial interests) with a police force geared towards protecting and safeguarding the lives and properties of Nigerian citizens.
- The establishment of guiding principles to ensure effective policing in Nigeria. These principles include; efficiency and effectiveness; accountability and transparency; Protection of human rights and fundamental freedom; as well as partnership with other security institutions and agencies.
- The bill deals with handling of weapons by police officers by holding them accountable for their actions in the arrest and detention of individuals as well as during raids and searches.
- Clauses that mandate record keeping and protection of citizens from the abuse of police officers.
- The establishment of a community police and boards in all the states of the federation that will consist of broad representatives of the community and the state to ensure effective, efficient, and participatory community policing.
- The establishment of an independent complaint authority to receive, investigate and deal with complaints brought against police officers from members of the public
If the Bill goes through and becomes law Nigeria will be free from seventy years of bondage as one of the last standing colonial institutions will be dismantled and reformed as a truly Nigerian creation made to provide security and protection of Nigerian lives.