Reps Calls For Auctioning Of Police Barracks Across Nigeria

The House of Representatives has called for the auctioning of Police barracks across the country.

Naija News reports that the House is suggesting that move as a way to tackle the deplorable living conditions of police officers in the country.

The House arrived at the resolution following the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance by Rep. Murphy Omoruyi (LP-Edo) during plenary in Abuja on Thursday.

According to the lawmaker, the National Assembly passed the Police Reform Bill 2020, and it was signed into law by former President, Muhammadu Buhari on Sept. 16, 2020.

He said that one of the core issues of the Act was to address the living conditions of the nation’s police officers.

Omoruyi explained that even though billions have been spent to renovate police barracks across the country, all efforts made to rehabilitate the barracks failed.

He said, “Between 2019 – 2022, more than N5 billion was spent by the Federal Government on renovation of barracks.

“Having officers of the Nigeria Police living amongst the general population, rather than in their secluded barracks, will significantly satisfy these calls and enhance public safety.”

Speaking further, the lawmaker said the barracks method of housing police and local law enforcement officers, was a relic of colonial practice that had since been abandoned by the colonialists.

The lawmaker said that the deplorable living condition of the police officers had dampened their morale and productivity, adding that even the public has lost confidence and respect in the officers due to their poor condition of service.

The current situation, according to him, has led to police officers being tagged as corrupt, and it’s due to their poor welfare.

He said Police officers and their families lived in squalor characterised by large cracks on the wall, bat-infested houses, and leaking roofs, among others.

He suggested that in replacement of the abolishment of the barracks model, officers should be given “Housing Allowance”, which would be determined by rank, existing police salary structure and location.

Adopting the motion, the House urged the Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Police Affairs to liaise with the Bureau of Public Enterprise to assess the value of all federal-owned barracks across the country.

The House said that a public offering should be announced for the same.

The House constituted an ad hoc committee to produce a comprehensive addendum to the Police Reform Bill with input from all relevant stakeholders.

The House also mandated the Committee on Appropriation to ensure a redeployment of the funds meant for the maintenance of barracks across the country.

It urged the committee to make annual budgetary allocation for a befitting “Housing Allowance” for serving police officers while mandating the Committee on Police Affairs to ensure compliance.

The committee was directed to report back to the House within four weeks.