Police Reforms: Senate’s move to bring IGs under Legislature’s control reject, as Police boss says it will politicize crime fighting in country

The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Alhaji Ibrahim Kpotun Idris, has rejected a proposal by the Senate in the Police Amendment Bill which stipulates that the National Assembly must confirm the appointment of the Inspector General of Police.

He believes this will politicize the office IGP and will be a disadvantage to the police in its efforts in fighting crime.

The Police boss made this known during a public hearing on the Police Reform Bill on Wednesday.

He said: “Again, the police is of the view that the requirement of the confirmation of the Senate for the appointment and removal of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) will tend to politicize the office Inspector General of Police.

“This will be a disadvantage to the police in its efforts to fight crime in the society.

“It is therefore suggested that requirement for the confirmation of the appointment and removal of the Inspector General of Police be sponged from the Bill”.

The Senate is amending the law guiding the operations of the Nigeria Police to ensure efficiency, accountability and respect for human rights.

This may be another laudable effort by the Senate but likely to doom if the Senate fails to yield the call of the Police IG.

It will be recalled how constitutional amendments had failed by successive Senates because of issues considered personal to individual senators.

The public hearing on Customs policy on importation of cars could have been brilliant job done by the Red Chamber but the individual interest insisting on the Customs Comptroller General must wear uniform which rubbished the opportunity Nigerians might have to listen to how the policy would affect their lives or otherwise.

Under Goodluck Jonathan, Confab 2014 Report that could have translated to a better national constitution was spoiled by the President’s personal interest to elongate himself in office.

Obasanjo’s political national conference would have given Nigeria a new beginning but his personal interest in third term which destroyed the whole idea that would have given Nigeria a new legal document.

Under the current dispensation, the National Assembly has failed continuously to achieve a generally acceptable constitutional amendment because the individual lawmakers have injected their respective self interests away from the collective interests of Nigerians.

Among the self-interest of senators that are not of Nigeria are the injection of ‘immunity clause’ for senators and lately, with several times of politicization of security by minority controlling the majority dominate Senate where police reforms bills had suffered setback for selfish reasons, it will be difficult for any reasonable government to agree with what the Senate is asking for about requirement for the confirmation of the Inspector-General of Police.

The attempt, The DEFENDER learned, is to bring the police under the control of the legislature away from the being under the control of executive.