By KINGSLEY OMONOBI
ABUJA – FOLLOWING alleged conflicting figures over the true size of the Nigeria Police Force and the need to meet UN policing ratio of one to 400 citizens, the Federal Government has flagged off the comprehensive audit of police personnel, with biometric identification and registration for all police officers nationwide.
Police Affairs minister, Navy Captain Caleb Olubolade (rtd), announced this at the stakeholders' roundtable review workshop of the draft plan on the strategic plan for the reform programme of the Nigeria Police.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Alhaji Aliyu Ismaila, the minister disclosed that the Federal Government has also approved the implementation of an ambitious reform programme with a revised financial implication of N1.5trillion for the police over a six year period.
Olubolade noted that it was in an effort to enlist the support of the private sector for the reform programme that members of the organized private sector demanded for the provision of a strategic plan on the reform programme driven by a private sector organization.
The workshop concluded that a modern intelligence led, technology driven and community focused police organization, and adequately funded police, with a bottom-up estimation of financial and operational requirement of the Nigeria Police, will realistically establish the cost of maintaining police operations nationwide.
It said the reform must also integrate the newly acquired technology capability delivered by the National Public Safety Communications System project with the operational procedures and processes of the Nigeria Police and build a sustainable strategic partnership with the organized private sector by acknowledging their support, appreciate the support as well deepening the engagement through clearly articulated documentation made available to all.
It said there was urgent need to pay attention to current inadequacy of budgetary overheads provision through hybrid financing mechanism and the passage of the Nigeria Police Reform Trust Fund Establishment Bill.
