Reps pass Police Act for third reading

THE House of Representatives on Tuesday moved a step closer to passing a new Police Act for the federation when it adopted the report of its Committee on Police Affairs for third reading.

The House, at its committee of the whole, considered clause by clause, the report, which seeks to repeal the Police Act of 2004 and enact a new Police Act.

Chairman of the House Committee on Police Affairs, Bello Usman Kumo, had submitted the report of his committee on the proposed bill to the House at its sitting of May 12.

At its consideration on Tuesday, Kumo asked the House to consider and approve the report.

He said: “That the House does consider the report of the Committee on Police Affairs on a Bill for an Act to repeal the Police Act, Cap. P19, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and enact Nigeria Police Act, 2020 to provide for the framework for the Police Force and ensure cooperation and partnership between the Police and host communities in maintaining peace, protecting lives and property; and for related matters (HB.685) and approve the recommendations therein.”

Kumo said the Bill governs the operations of the police and seeks to rectify issues in the 2004 Police Act to ensure efficiency, transparency and adherence to human right laws as well as other critical issues noted in the operations of the Nigeria Police.

He said it is highly critical to repel the former Act and re-enact a new one through the proposed Bill.

On returning to plenary, the House adopted its voting on the clauses in the Committee of Whole before adjourning till June 2.