…receives draft police regulation from UNDP Consultant
The Ministry of Police Affairs has taken a step towards enhancing Nigeria’s policing framework as it receives a draft of the Police Regulation from a consultant affiliated with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
A collaborative interagency committee comprising the Ministry of Police Affairs, Police Service Commission, and Nigeria Police Force, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), presented a draft of the new Police Regulation to the Ministry of Police Affairs for scrutiny and approval.
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The presentation was made by Kemi Okenyodo, Executive Director of the Rule of Law and Empowerment Initiative and consultant to the UNDP, at the Ministry’s headquarters in Abuja.
Nasir Gwarzo, the Permanent Secretary, represented by Margarete Azeez, Director of Planning Research and Statistics, emphasized the committee’s objective: to meticulously review the draft Police Regulations before their final presentation for adoption and ratification by the Minister.
Under Section 138 of the Nigeria Police Act, 2020, the Minister is empowered to make regulations concerning the policy, organization, and administration of the Police Force, based on the recommendations of the Inspector General of Police.
“This includes matters related to establishments and finances, excluding pensions under the Pension Reform Act.
“A review of the Police Regulations has become imperative given that some aspects of its provisions have been overtaken by events, while others, such as training, need to align with contemporary issues and realities of policing”, said Gwarzo.
He noted that since the Police Act of 1943, there had been no comprehensive reform of Police legislation until 2020.
The UNDP Police reform project in Nigeria aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of policing and law enforcement by repositioning and revitalizing the institutional, operational, and reputational stance of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) for optimal functionality.
Kemi Okenyodo highlighted the necessity of modifying the Police Regulation following the enactment of the Police Act (2020).
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She emphasized the need to update enlistment criteria, policies regarding female police officers, the NPF Gender Policy, job descriptions, disciplinary procedures, registers maintained at police stations, and the code of conduct to align with current legal and policy frameworks.
“This draft Police Regulation aims to ensure the Nigeria Police Force remained effective, contemporary, and aligned with strategic legal and policy frameworks, addressing the evolving needs and realities of modern policing”, Okenyodo stated.
