Why The Police Act Had To Be Amended – Sen

The reasons for the amendment of Nigeria Police Act which existed for over a hundred years has been given by Senator Tijjani Kaura, Senate Committee Chairman on Police Affairs.

The senator spoke while addressing a press conference today after a plenary, explained that the Act was obsolete and ineffectual.

Kaura said the amendment, the first of its kind has reformed the Police in a manner that would make them effective policing across the nation.

Part of the major highlight, he noted, was to make the Police civil and people-centered, saying that the Police ought to protect the people rather than being against the people as it were.

“Senate passed Police Act after 100 years. This is the first time the act received attention and just last week, the public hearing on the Nigeria Police Academy was also heard.”

“The major highlight of the bill is to make the Police people-centred and the Police are expected to protect human lives than destroying the people.”

Explaining further, he said, more reform in the amended act would see Police personnel go for training and retraining, adding that the situation of stagnating an officer for ten years on a particular beat would no longer be possible.

“Today, you can see a Police on a particular beat for 10 years without transfer and training.”

“The welfare of Police was also taken into cognizance in the amended act.”

Highlighting on sanctions involving Police officers, the lawmaker said, the act stipulated punitive measures to make happily triggered officers gauge the implications of their actions against the rule while on duties.

According to him, criminals who impersonated Police to commit crimes to attract a penalty of Five Million or two years jail term or both.

Kaura was optimistic that the bill would be signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari despite the 8th Senate having two months life-span.