Nigerian lawmakers want all police barracks auctioned

The members of the House of Representatives have called for the auctioning of police barracks across the country to tackle the deplorable living conditions of officers, noting that the problem of adequate and dignified accommodation for police officers persists and had so far outlived all previous measures.

Penpushing reports that the lawmakers made the resolution on Thursday during plenary at the cambers, following the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance by Hon Murphy Omoruyi, representing Labour Party (LP) Edo State.

The Labour Party (LP) lawmaker while leading the debate, recalled that the National Assembly passed the Police Reform Bill 2020, which was signed into law by former President, Muhammadu Buhari on September 16, 2020.

Penpushing further reports that Omoruyi pointed out that one of the core issues of the Act was to address the living conditions of the country’s gallant police officers, stressing that the problem of adequate and dignified accommodation for police officers persists and had so far outlived all previous measures.

The federal lawmaker explained that between 2019 and 2022 more than N5 billion was spent by the Nigerian Government on renovation of barracks, lamenting that all efforts made to rehabilitate the barracks failed.

Penpushing also reports that he said there had been robust national debate and calls for more community-oriented policing strategies, noting that the barracks method of housing police and local law enforcement officers, was a relic colonial practice that had since been abandoned by the colonialists.

‘Between 2019 – 2022 more than N5 billion was spent by the Federal Government on renovation of barracks. Having officers of the Nigeria Police living amongst the general population, rather than in their secluded barracks will significantly satisfy these calls and enhance public safety,” he said.

Penpushing reports that Omoruyi emphasized that police officers and their families lived in squalor characterised by large cracks on the wall, bat-infested houses, and leaking roofs among others, while he also noted that the police officers in the country had been tagged as corrupt.

The lawmaker said this was not far-fetched from the lack of welfare services for them, stating that the general public has lost confidence and respect in the nation’s gallant officers due to their poor condition of service;

Penpushing further reports that he noted that the deplorable living condition of the police officers had dampened their morale and productivity, adding that if this issue was not urgently addressed, the welfare of the gallant officers would continue to deteriorate,

The Edo State Labour Party(LP) lawmaker said the abolishment of the barracks model and replacement with an enhanced housing allowance determined by rank, existing police salary structure and location would be beneficial to the officers.

Penpushing also reports that the House of Representatives adopting the motion urged the Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Police Affairs to liaise with the Bureau of Public Enterprise to assess the value of all federal-owned barracks across the country.

The federal lawmakers posited that a public offering should be announced for the same, and thereafter  constituted an ad hoc committee to produce a comprehensive addendum to the Police Reform Bill with input from all relevant stakeholders.

Penpushing reports that the lower chambers lawmakers therefore mandated the Committee on Appropriation to ensure a redeployment of the funds meant for the maintenance of barracks across the country.

The lawmakers urged the committee to make annual budgetary allocation for the construction of befitting housing allowance for serving police officers while mandating the Committee on Police Affairs to ensure compliance, and equally directed the committee to report back to the House within four weeks for further legislative action.

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