OPENING REMARKS DELIVERED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE, HIS EXCELLENCY (DR.) ABUBAKAR BUKOLA SARAKI, CON, AT THE PUBLIC HEARING ON POLICE REFORM AND RELATED MATTERS BILL 2018, HELD AT THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY COMPLEX, ABUJA, ON JULY 24, 2018.
PROTOCOL.
1. I welcome you all to this Public Hearing organised by the Senate Committee on Police Affairs for the repeal of the Police Act CAP P18 LFN 2004 and re-enactment of the Police Reform and Related Matters Bill 2018.
2. The nature of this event today is in line with the yearnings and expectations of Nigerians in every nook and cranny of the country. This is why this Public Hearing specifically invites stakeholder input on the Bill seeking to repeal and re-enact the Police Act. I would like to extend my gratitude to Distinguished Senator Suleiman Adokwe for sponsoring this Bill, and other key legislators, especially the entire members of Senate Committee on Police Affairs, for their vital input to this Bill.
3. Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, we would all agree that Police Reform is one of the top issues facing our country today. Security in any nation is an imperative to the growth, wealth, sustenance and unity of that entity. This means that it is not an issue to be glossed over, and must prompt the attention and input of every well-meaning citizen.
4. There is no gainsaying the fact that the weight on our police force today is far greater than it was originally structured to withstand. If events in the country are anything to go by, it is evident that we must put round pegs in round holes, especially as it relates to innocent lives and peaceful co-existence. The response to mass killings is in need of a reappraisal; attitude to innocent citizens and reported cases of brazen disregard for the rule of law and constituted authority must also be checked.
5. There cannot be a justifiable peg on the value of human life and the life of an average Nigerian. The brutality exerted by some members of the Police Force on innocent Nigerians out on their daily activities smacks of disregard for human life and misplaced priority. This is reflected in the ongoing campaign to end the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), a viral social media campaign with the hashtag, #EndSARS. The ongoing outcry by the same Nigerians we have been called to serve, demands our attention. There are allegations of assault, illegal detention, and general infringement of rights by the Nigeria Police Force that simply cannot be ignored.
6. Scholars have asserted that a strong state or nation is characterised partly by its monopoly of violence. Notwithstanding, this power is to be wielded to protect the wellbeing of citizens, as opposed to causing harm.
7. On the other hand, it is impossible for an agency of the Federal Government to deliver world class service without being provided with the right tools and resources. We need to identify the critical needs of police officers and debate whether this Bill will pave way for government to begin to meet their needs, so that we can improve morale within the force and inspire a greater sense of professionalism and dignity.
8. Distinguished guests, it is our expectation that we will, in this Public Hearing, have a thorough and robust discussion on the Bill. Citizen-led governance is a flagstaff of any democracy, and the people are demanding that we address these issues. We cannot successfully do so without the input of the stakeholders gathered here today.
9. I would like to conclude by once again welcoming you all to this Public Hearing on the Repeal and Amendment of the Police Act. We know you have made the time to be here because you are as convinced as we are of its importance. Let us put our heads together and find a solution to this challenge.
10. It is on that note that I hereby formally declare open this Public Hearing on the Police Reform and Related Matters Bill 2018. I wish you successful deliberations.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
