The Network On Police Reforms in Nigeria, (NOPRIN FOUNDATION), a nongovernmental organisation that acts as watchdog over activities of the Nigeria Police Force, has condemned the part played by the police during the recent invasion of the National Assembly by lawmakers.
The national coordinator of NOPRIN, Mr. Okechukwu Nwanguma said: “I dare say
that the blatant display of partisanship by the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) at
the NASS last week brought sharply to the fore the danger inherent in
centralising both policy and operational control of the police in the hands of
the president.”
Nwanguma said that Nigeria is the only jurisdiction where the President holds absolute control of the police and easily manipulates them to his political interest.
He said: “The extant legal framework ensures that the NPF remains partisan and accountable only to the president who appoints and can, at will, fire the IGP. This, not only destroys police professionalism and effectiveness, but also undermines the principle of separation of powers. Had the legislature supported and passed the civil society's bill presented since 2006 for the amendment of the Police Act to, among others, remove operational control from the president and make the police accountable to multiple constituencies, this recent development- which indicates how much threat the police poses to 2015 and democracy- would have been avoided.”
Nwanguma said that Nigeria is the only jurisdiction where the President holds absolute control of the police and easily manipulates them to his political interest.
He said: “The extant legal framework ensures that the NPF remains partisan and accountable only to the president who appoints and can, at will, fire the IGP. This, not only destroys police professionalism and effectiveness, but also undermines the principle of separation of powers. Had the legislature supported and passed the civil society's bill presented since 2006 for the amendment of the Police Act to, among others, remove operational control from the president and make the police accountable to multiple constituencies, this recent development- which indicates how much threat the police poses to 2015 and democracy- would have been avoided.”
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