Sack all police officers -Group
Save Visions Africa says that is the only way to sanitise the system
In what may be termed a radical approach to reforming the Nigeria Police Force, Save Visions Africa, a non-profit organisation, has called for the sack of the entire police force.
Peter Okereke, the organisation's Executive Director, said this while speaking at a public hearing organised by civil society groups in collaboration with the Network For Police Reform in Nigeria (NOPRIN) and the CLEEN Foundation.
"Police officers are neck-deep in corruption and a new set of officers would have to be recruited to sanitise the corrupt system," Okereke said.
He disclosed that India successfully applied the radical transformation of its police force.
"A sergeant who has stayed in the force for more than ten years will corrupt the recruits, the same sergeant will also corrupt the senior officers so there is no end to this chain of corruption but to sack the entire police force,” Okereke said.
Other speakers at the event had more moderate approaches in mind, as regards reforming the police force.
However, all the participants agreed on the need for a better-equipped police force in the face of growing security challenges in the country.
In his keynote address, Tunde Panos, a retired Major who represented Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, identified "lack of public trust, inadequate training, insufficient personnel and poor remuneration and welfare packages" as some of the challenges facing the police force.
Panos urged the government to tackle the root causes of insecurity in the country, such as poverty, unemployment and poor power supply.
Other viewpoints shared by the participants were calls for state policing and restructuring of the recruitment process.
A labour leader, Ayodele Akerele, however, noted that the politicisation of the police force by state governments and politicians could hamper the objectives of state policing.
According to him, political office holders corrupt and use police officers as tools to disrupt peaceful protests and disagreements between the government and the public.
Akerele also called for the use of modern technologies like the CCTV camera, in monitoring crime.
One of the gray areas also highlighted to require reform, is making the police more accessible to persons living with disabilities.
David Anyaele, the Executive Director of the Centre for Citizens with Disabilities, called for an inclusive police force designed to give more accessibility to persons with disabilities.
He said persons living with disabilities should enjoy better access to police stations to report crime and victimisation.
Meanwhile, the organisers of the event promised to submit a memorandum to the government as their contribution to reforming the police force.
Peter Okereke, the organisation's Executive Director, said this while speaking at a public hearing organised by civil society groups in collaboration with the Network For Police Reform in Nigeria (NOPRIN) and the CLEEN Foundation.
"Police officers are neck-deep in corruption and a new set of officers would have to be recruited to sanitise the corrupt system," Okereke said.
He disclosed that India successfully applied the radical transformation of its police force.
"A sergeant who has stayed in the force for more than ten years will corrupt the recruits, the same sergeant will also corrupt the senior officers so there is no end to this chain of corruption but to sack the entire police force,” Okereke said.
Other speakers at the event had more moderate approaches in mind, as regards reforming the police force.
However, all the participants agreed on the need for a better-equipped police force in the face of growing security challenges in the country.
In his keynote address, Tunde Panos, a retired Major who represented Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, identified "lack of public trust, inadequate training, insufficient personnel and poor remuneration and welfare packages" as some of the challenges facing the police force.
Panos urged the government to tackle the root causes of insecurity in the country, such as poverty, unemployment and poor power supply.
Other viewpoints shared by the participants were calls for state policing and restructuring of the recruitment process.
A labour leader, Ayodele Akerele, however, noted that the politicisation of the police force by state governments and politicians could hamper the objectives of state policing.
According to him, political office holders corrupt and use police officers as tools to disrupt peaceful protests and disagreements between the government and the public.
Akerele also called for the use of modern technologies like the CCTV camera, in monitoring crime.
One of the gray areas also highlighted to require reform, is making the police more accessible to persons living with disabilities.
David Anyaele, the Executive Director of the Centre for Citizens with Disabilities, called for an inclusive police force designed to give more accessibility to persons with disabilities.
He said persons living with disabilities should enjoy better access to police stations to report crime and victimisation.
Meanwhile, the organisers of the event promised to submit a memorandum to the government as their contribution to reforming the police force.
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