Police: Reps frown at delay in recruitment of 60,000 personnel

The House of Representatives on Wednesday unveiled plans to investigate the deteriorating conditions of Nigeria Police Training Colleges across the country.

The resolution was passed sequel to the adoption of a motion sponsored by Hon. Zayyad Ibrahim, who expressed concern over the delay in the recruitment of 60,000 police personnel as approved by the Presidency since 2019.

In his lead debate, Hon. Ibrahim applauded Federal Government’s initiatives and commitment to tackle the shortage of manpower and the prevalent menace of insecurity afflicting the nation with the recruitment of 60,000 police personnel across the 774 Local Government Areas, translating into 10,000 personnel in a year.

He however observed that the Inspector General of Police, on 15 September 2021 revealed that the 2020 recruitment exercise has not been actualized, therefore, 20,000 personnel are expected to be recruited before the end of this year.

While calling for the House intervention, Hon. Ibrahim observed that the Senate had in September 2019 “summoned the Minister of Police Affairs over the deteriorating conditions of the Colleges with most of them dilapidated states and inadequate to conveniently and efficiently accommodate trainees of such magnitude.

“The House is cognizant of the effect on the health, morale, and productivity of trainees, urgent steps need to be taken in accordance with the provisions of Section 9 Sub-section (d, e, and j) of the Nigerian Police Act to renovate facilities at the Police Training Colleges,” he urged.

To this end, the House mandated its Committee on Police Affairs, to investigate and report back within two weeks for further legislative action.

Also at plenary, the Speaker, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila directed the Clerk, Mr Ben Akabueze to transmit the House resolution to all the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) before the close of work today, to ensure inclusion of budgetary allocation in the 2022 budget estimate, for the establishment of Federal Medical Centres (FMCs) and construction of roads across the federation.

The resolution was passed after the adoption of a motion on the need to fund the completion of the Federal Medical Center, Makurdi Benue State, sponsored by Hon. Mzondu Bem.

He observed that the Federal Medical Center, Makurdi, Benue State was established in 1995 in line with the Federal Government’s policy to provide at least one tertiary health care in each state of the federation that does not have a Federal University Teaching Hospital.

According to him, “there are over 22 Federal Medical Centers all over the country and as a general policy, most of the Centres are situated in the state capital, especially where the apex secondary health institution being run by the state does not adequately meet the demands for specialist healthcare for the citizenry.

“The House is also aware that the Federal Medical Center, Makurdi is the only Federal Government-owned tertiary health facility in the state that renders medical services to neighbouring states and is currently being housed in five different locations across Makurdi, the state capital as a result of inadequate funding to complete the permanent site, a development that makes its operation very difficult, cumbersome and expensive.

“The House is further aware that Makurdi is a transit capital that links the Northern and Southern parts of Nigeria, and therefore handles enormous cases of accidents resulting from traffic volumes, hence the need to relocate the hospital to its permanent site to effectively enhance its proper management and operational activities.

“The House is worried that medical facilities in Benue state are already overstretched as a result of the recurring clashes, hence the need for the Federal Government to release funds to enable the Federal Medical Centre relocate to its permanent site.

“The House is cognizant that operating the Federal Medical Centre, Makurdi is becoming a huge challenge to effective delivery of health care services to Nigerians from five different sites across the State Capital.

“The House is also cognizant that unless the Federal Government takes urgent steps by releasing funds for the completion of the permanent site, more lives will continue to be lost as a result.

“The House observes that the current facilities and buildings housing the Center, especially the one at Atiku Abubakar road, has existed for over 70 years as it was formerly a general hospital building, whose architectural designs were not meant to house a federal medical centre as they are obsolete and dilapidated,” he noted.

To this end, the House urged Federal Ministry of Health to include the funding of the Federal Medical Centre, Makurdi in the 2022 budget estimates, just as it mandated its Committee on Legislative Compliance to ensure compliance.

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