The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Usman Alkali Baba on Wednesday lamented that none of the existing Nigeria Police Force (NPF) training institutions has legal backing.
The IGP made the revelation in Abujja when he appeared before a joint session of the Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Police Affairs on a bill for an Act to establish the Nigeria Police Force College Training School and Institutions.
Consequently he made a passionate for the urgent passage of the bill to ensure that the Police training institutions have legal backing as being done in the rest of world.
The IGP who expressed concern that all the Nation’s Police institutions across the country have been operating over the years without legal backing. stated that 35 police institutions were captured in the bill in three categories across the country.
According to him, *the first category has six institutions, the second has 14 training institutions, while the third has 15 tactical and technical institutions of the Nigeria Police.
“While calling on support of the distinguished members of this hallowed Chambers for the expeditious passage of this Bill it is our belief that this Bill will engender a new era of modernised training and retraining of personnel of the Nigeria Police Force and other agencies that would also greatly impact on their service delivery as we strive towards the attainment of our given mandate.
“It would also assist other law enforcement agencies to be trained in these schools. It is our hope that our training institutions would be legally recognised and given a framework and also funded from the budget as we do not have any of our schools budgeted for and that is why we have gaps in our training processes. The issue of training and retraining cannot be over emphasized.”
Speaking, the Chairman of the Senate committee on Police Affair, Sen Haliru Jika stressed the need to strengthen and empower the Nigerian Police Force for optimal performance.
Also, Chairman House Committee on Police Affairs, Hon Usman Bello Kumo, said it was a very important bill which would receive urgent attention from the parliament.
According to him, “This function is a public hearing to fulfil all righteousness and observe all procedures in enacting a law. It is a public hearing for Nigeria Police Force College Training Schools and Institutions establishment bill 2023.
“The bill is aimed at providing legislation for all colleges and police Institutions. You are all aware that from time immemorial our pioneer schools and Colleges have been graduating students but without a legislation. I think it is the right time as we are moving forward to enhance the…. And come up with reforms. I appreciate the government of the slday that signed tbe police act in 2020.
“And going forward, we are truly in the path of enhancing the Police, giving them the enabling environment and the legislation that they would work in tandem with their colleagues in other parts of the world. We need to get buy in of all stakeholders. We will continue to give the police the best cooperation to ensure that being the largest civil security outfit in the land and in a democratic dispensation. We are not going to joke with the Police.”
In his remarks, the Speaker, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila, who was represented by Hon Iduma igariwey enwo said, “It is a very fundamental discharge their parliamentary responsibility. This is an important assignment. I think we all have the business today to develop a legal framework for the institution of the Nigerian Police Force.
“We cannot over state the importance of developing a legal framework for police institutions. It is very important to develop the legal framework. This is part of the reforms and restructuring of the Nigeria Police. This is at the core of it.”
Before adjourning the hearing, the committee resolved to set a technical committee to take a critical look into the provision’s of the bill.
READ ALSO FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
and then