The House of Representatives on Thursday urged the Federal Government to address the deplorable living conditions of personnel of the Nigeria Police Force and wanted the government to seek ways of ensuring the immediate auctioning of police barracks nationwide.
The resolution followed the adoption of a motion moved by Hon. Murphy Osaro Omoruyi on the matter on the floor of the House at the Plenary presided over by the Speaker, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas.
While moving the motion, Hon. Omoruyi noted that in September 2020, the National Assembly passed the Police Reform Bill 2020, which was signed into law by the former Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari, on September 16, 2020. One of its core issues was to address the living conditions of our nation’s gallant police officers.
The lawmaker also noted that the problem of adequate and dignified accommodation for police officers persists and has so far outlived all previous measures.
He noted that, for example, between 2019 and 2022, over 5 billion Naira was spent by the Federal Government on barracks renovations.
According to him, despite all efforts, barracks continue to fail to meet basic needs in their current state of disrepair and lack of maintenance.
He said, ‘Aware that there has been robust national debate and calls for more community-oriented policing strategies, and having officers of the Nigeria Police Force live amongst the general population rather than in their secluded barracks, will significantly satisfy these calls and enhance public safety.
Also aware that the barracks method of housing for police and local law enforcement officers is a relic of colonial practice that has since been abandoned by the same colonialists in their home countries.
He expressed worry that police officers and their families live in squalor quarters characterised by large cracks on the wall, bat-infested houses, leaking roofs, and dilapidated structures for barracks across the country.
Also worried, he expressed concerns, noting that our police officers have been tagged as corrupt, and this is not far-fetched given the lack of welfare services for them.
The House, he said, is disturbed that the public has lost confidence and respect in our gallant officers due to their poor conditions of service.
He argued that the deplorable living conditions of the police officers have dampened their morale and productivity.
He informed the House that if this issue is not urgently addressed, the welfare of our gallant officers will continue to deteriorate.
The lawmaker also stated that the abolishment of the barracks model and its replacement with an enhanced ‘Housing Allowance’ determined by rank, the existing police salary structure, and location will be highly beneficial to the officers’ welfare, morale, productivity, as well as the good of the general public.
The motion was unanimously adopted by other members when it was put to a voice vote.
The Speaker urged the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Police Affairs to liaise with the Bureau of Public Enterprise to immediately assess the value of all federally owned barracks across the country and announce a public offering for the same.
He said that the House would constitute an adhoc committee to produce a comprehensive addendum to the Police Reform Bill with input from all relevant stakeholders and to report back to the House within a four-week period for further legislative action.
Furthermore, he mandated the House Committee on Appropriation to ensure a redeployment of the funds meant for the maintenance of barracks across the country and provide annual budgetary allocation for the construction of a befitting ‘Housing Allowance’ for serving police officers, as well as mandate the Committee on Police Affairs to ensure compliance.”
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