Speaker Abbas, Yalleman commended for advancing police reform bill

A pro-good governance group, the National Democratic Front has commended Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas for his handling of the Bill for an Act to amend the Nigeria Police Act 2020.

In a statement issued on Wednesday by its Secretary General, Abdulkadir Musa, the group also commended the Chairman of the Committee on Police Affairs, Abubakar Yalleman, for his dedication to addressing security challenges in the country at all levels.

The statement read, ‘This amendment bill, which seeks to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the Nigerian Police Force, is a significant milestone in the quest for a more robust, responsive, and people-friendly policing system in Nigeria.

“The bill’s provisions, which include the extension of police officers’ retirement age and service years, will undoubtedly lead to improved morale, retention of experienced personnel, and enhanced overall performance of the Force.

“We wish to express our heartfelt appreciation and commendation to the Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, and the Chairman of the Committee on Police Affairs, Abubakar Yalleman for their landmark consideration of the Bill for an Act to amend the Nigeria Police Act 2020.

“We commend them for their demonstrated commitment to security sector reform and their responsiveness to the yearnings of Nigerians for a more effective and accountable police force, Musa said, adding that the consideration of the bill “Is a testament to their dedication to entrenching a culture of excellence, professionalism, and service delivery in our security agencies.’

Recall that the Police Act Amendment Bill recently passed a second reading during a plenary session on the floor of the lower legislative chamber.

The bill among others, seeks to review the service years of police personnel, improve the experience and expertise of the police workforce, retain experienced personnel, reduce the cost of training and recruiting new officers, improve morale performance and job satisfaction, and address the shortage of skilled personnel in the force.

Musa described the proposed legislation as timely; given the importance of having experienced security personnel in service to handle the worsening state of security in the country.

The body urged the Senate to concur with the House on the bill to enable President Bola Tinubu to assent to it without delay, saying, ‘We believe that this amendment will significantly contribute to the improvement of security and safety in Nigeria.