Mr Rommy Mom, the Commissioner in charge of Civil Society in the Police Service Commission (PSC) has expressed concern over delay in the implementation of the Police Act, 2020.
Mom expressed the concern during an Open Forum on Public Safety: Towards Implementation of the Police Act, 2020.
The forum was organised by the Nigerian Economic Summit Group, CLEEN Foundation and the National Assembly Business Roundtable (NASSBER).
The PSC commissioner said the implementation of the Police Act, 2020 would address the challenges of misconducts and unprofessionalism in the activities of the Nigeria Police.
“I do believe that if we comply strictly to the Police Act, 2020 the issues of unprofessionalism will greatly be reduced.
“If we comply with the police Act, it will not be the Police Force of the I-G, but will be a police Force of Nigeria because Nigerians will take ownership and take charge of policing.
“People believe that the police Act, 2020 should be activated, should be implemented and when we do that, professionalism will be enhanced,” he said.
He said PSC by the Act should be in charge of appointments and recruitments for Nigerians but expressed dismay that Nigeria Police was appointing and recruiting.
He said rational behind leaving appointments and recruitments in the hand of PSC in the Act was to allow the police focus strictly on security issues.
He said community policing initiative was an integral part of the Police Act, 2020, but expressed dismay that the initiative had not received the desired attention.
According to him, as we speak today there is yet to be one community policing that have taken off in Nigeria. Approval does not translate to release.
In his remark, Mr Peter Gad, the Executive Director, CLEEN Foundation said Nigeria security system was overwhelmed by ever increasing incidences.
Gad represented by Mrs Chigozirim Okoro, Programme Manager, CLEEN Foundation, said the incidences were occasioned by security challenges necessitated in the repealing of the Police Act, 2004.
He said the Act gave room for the new Police Act, 2020 and approved by President Muhammadu Buhari.
“The Focal point of today’s open forum is targeted at the implementation of the Act, aimed at providing an effective Police Force driven by the principles of professionalism, accountability and transparency in its operations and management.
“To chart an action plan for implementation of the new Police Act, 2020, it is expected that there should be an engagement to key stakeholders to brainstorm and agree on the way forward,” he said.
