The Minister of Police Affairs, Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, has expressed confidence in the 9th National Assembly for a quick passage of the Bill on Police Reforms and Police Academy.
A press statement by the ministry’s Head, Press and Public Relations Mr. Odutayo Oluseyi, Monday in Abuja, said the minister spoke during a retreat organised by the leadership of the Senate and the United Kingdom, Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC) in Ikeja, Lagos, recently.
He said Dingyadi enjoined all stakeholders present to seize the opportunity to perfect the two Bills before passage to the Senate for second reading.
The minister, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Nnamdi Maurice Mbaeri, said the ministry was solidly behind the review and updating of the Police Reform Bill and Police Academy Bill.
“I strongly believe that this exercise will launch the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and indeed the internal security machinery of the nation to global standard; such that it will be able to tackle frontally, the myriads of security challenges confronting the nation.”
Speaking earlier, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Police Affairs, Senator Hilaru Dauda Jika said the purpose of the retreat was to create wider public awareness of the importance of the Bill and also engage with the leadership of the Nigerian Police, the ministry, Police Service Commission (PSC) and all relevant stakeholders to get their buy- in and present a robust Bill to the Senate for ease of passage.
He encouraged participants to still make submission in writing to the committee to be led by the Ministry of Police Affairs for further input before senate resumes recess, even as he assured that a public hearing would be made on the Bill for inclusiveness.
