By Muhammad Muntazar
Senate President Godswill Akpabio has announced that the National Assembly is prepared to overhaul obsolete legislation to support critical reforms in Nigeria’s policing system.
Speaking at the Police Service Commission (PSC) Board Induction/Strategic Management session, Akpabio emphasized the need for modernization, urging the PSC to embrace technology and higher professional standards.
The Senate President, represented by Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, assured that lawmakers would provide the necessary legislative framework to facilitate these changes.
“The National Assembly is ready to give the necessary legislative backing for the review of outdated laws,” Akpabio stated.
He called for a merit-based reward system to recognize exemplary police officers, stressing that Nigeria must prioritize “merit, discipline, and integrity over mediocrity, favouritism, and impunity.” According to him, transforming the police demands bold action to challenge entrenched practices.
Akpabio also urged the PSC to implement policies that ensure officers serve as protectors rather than predators, delivering “justice instead of judgment.”
He highlighted successful international models, advocating for community policing strategies focused on “empathy, conflict resolution, and neighbourhood engagement,” similar to approaches in Japan and Finland.
“Reforms in the police require courage that would disrupt the status quo,” he added, reinforcing the need for systemic change in law enforcement.
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