President Muhammadu Buhari has welcomed the establishment of the
Judicial Panels of Inquiry by 13 States of the federation to investigate
cases of police brutality and bring justice for victims across the
country.
The president, who made his feelings known in a statement by his Special
Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, in Abuja on Wednesday
said the establishment of the panel was in line with the resolution of
the National Economic Council (NEC).
The NEC, under the chairmanship of Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, at its
meeting on Oct. 15, 2020 resolved to establish State-level Judicial
Panels of Inquiry, to investigate allegations of police brutality and
ensure that all erring personnel is brought to justice.
The States that have set up the panels so far are Lagos, Kaduna, Delta,
Ekiti, Ogun, Anambra, Enugu, Imo, Plateau, Edo, Nasarawa, Ondo, and Akwa
Ibom.
Buhari lauded the promptness of these necessary subnational actions and
reaffirmed his commitment to supporting the State Governments to ensure
that justice is achieved for all victims of police brutality in Nigeria.
The statement noted that prior to that, the president had in June 2019
signed a bill establishing the Police Trust Fund, to mobilize additional
funding for the welfare and equipping of the Nigeria Police Force.
“Accrual of funding into the Fund, as specified in its enabling Act, has
commenced.’’
It also recalled that the president had in 2018 approved an increase in
police salaries.
The police personnel budget has seen a rise from 288 billion Naira in
the 2018 Budget to 417 billion Naira in the proposed 2021 budget; an
increase of 45 percent.
While inaugurating the Nigerian Police Pension Fund Limited building on
Oct.20, the president also reiterated continuous support for both
serving and retired police personnel.
The president has equally approved the rollout and funding of a new
Community Policing Initiative, as part of a larger programme of police
reform in Nigeria, aimed at rewriting the rules of engagement between
the Force and citizens.
According to the presidential aide, Buhari’s commitment to extensive
police reforms should never be in doubt, saying the president in Sept.
2020 signed the new Nigeria Police Act, the first comprehensive revision
of the Police Act in decades.
“As President Buhari declared, the immediate dissolution of the Special
Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), is the first step in a set of reform policies
that will deliver a Police system accountable to the Nigerian people.
“The President has also approved the full implementation of the report
of the 2018-2019 Presidential Panel on Police Reform.
“Indeed the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the Police
Service Commission (PSC) have now commenced the implementation of the
Report,’’ Adesina further stated.
He, therefore, appealed for understanding and calm across the nation, as
the implementation of the reforms gathered pace at federal and state
levels.
“The Presidency wishes to reiterate the full commitment of the Buhari
Administration to the implementation of lasting Police reforms in
Nigeria,’’ he said.(NAN)