The House of Representatives has called on the Nigerian government to address the deplorable living conditions of police officers and is also seeking ways to ensure the immediate auctioning of police barracks across the country.
The House resolution was a sequel to the adoption of a motion moved by Hon. Murphy Osaro Omoruyi on the matter on the floor of the House
Debating the motion, Omoruyi noted that in September 2020, the Nigerian National Assembly passed the Police Reform Bill 2020, which was signed into law by the former Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari, on September 16, 2020, and one of its core issues was to address the living conditions of our nation’s gallant police officers.
The lawmaker also noted that the problem of adequate and dignified accommodation for police officers persists and has so far outlived all previous measures.
He noted that, for example, between 2019 and 2022, over 5 billion Naira was spent by the Federal Government on barracks renovations.
According to him, despite all efforts, barracks continue to fail to meet basic needs in their current state of disrepair and lack of maintenance.
He said: “Aware that there has been robust national debate and calls for more community-oriented policing strategies, having officers of the Nigeria Police Force live amongst the general population rather than in their secluded barracks will significantly satisfy these calls and enhance public safety;
“Also aware that the barracks method of housing for police and local law enforcement officers is a relic colonial practice that has since been abandoned by the same colonialists in their home countries.”
He expressed concern that police officers and their families live in squalor quarters characterised by large cracks on the wall, bat-infested houses, leaking roofs, and dilapidated structures for barracks across the country.
He also expressed worries, noting that our police officers have been tagged as corrupt, and this is not far-fetched from a lack of welfare services for them.
The House he said, is disturbed that the public has lost confidence and respect in our gallant officers due to their poor condition of service
He argued that the deplorable living conditions of the police officers have dampened their morale and productivity.
He informed the House that if this issue is not urgently addressed, the welfare of our gallant officers will continue to deteriorate.
The lawmaker also stated that the abolishment of the barracks model and its replacement with an enhanced “housing allowance” determined by rank, existing police salary structure, and location will be highly beneficial to the officers’ welfare, morale, productivity, and the good of the general public.
Consequently, the House, presided over by the Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas unanimously adopted the motion through a voice vote.
The Speaker urged the Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Police Affairs to liaise with the Bureau of Public Enterprise to immediately assess the value of all federal-owned barracks across the country and announce a public offering for the same.
He said he’ll constitute an ad hoc committee to produce a comprehensive addendum to the Police Reform Bill with input from all relevant stakeholders and to report back to the House within four weeks for further legislative action.
Furthermore, he mandated the House Committee on Appropriation to ensure a redeployment of the funds meant for the maintenance of barracks across the country and provide annual budgetary allocation for the construction of befitting “Housing Allowance” for serving police officers, as well as the Committee on Police Affairs to ensure compliance.
The House therefore mandated the Committee on Police Affairs to ensure compliance with the prayers.
