Senate Amends Police Act, Peg IGP on 4-Year Single Term Tenure
The Senate on Tuesday, passed a bill, which amended the police act to make the tenure of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) a four year single term.
The upper legislative chamber passed the legislation after it considered clauses in the bill titled, “Police Act CAP P19 LFN 2004 (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill, 2020.”
The passage of the bill followed the presentation of the report of the chairman, senate committee on police affairs, Halliru Jika, during plenary.
Jika said, “The national policing plan should be made with inputs from the Police Force Headquarters and all the various police formations nationwide before the end of each financial year, setting out priorities, objectives, cast implications and expected outcomes of policing for the next succeeding financial year in order to change budgeting from a top-down approach to a bottom-up approach.
“That the police abide and enforce certain constitutional provisions, particularly fundamental rights of persons in police custody under chapter 4 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and other international instruments on Human Rights to which Nigeria is a signatory (including of provisions that reiterate the importance of fundamental human rights and advocating for the observance).
“That on the Appointment and Removal of the Inspector General of Police, the provisions of the constitution in line with section 215 (as amended) should be retained, as any proposal contrary to this provision will require constitution alteration for it to be viable.
“That the community policing be strengthened. “
The recommendations were approved by the Senate after a clause by clause consideration before the amendment bill was passed.
The bill is to be forwarded to the House of Representatives for concurrence.
