Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has assured that the National Assembly is ready to provide legislative support for the review of outdated laws to promote police reforms and professionalism.
Speaking during the Police Service Commission (PSC) Board Induction and Strategic Management session in Ikot Ekpene on Monday, Akpabio, represented by Deputy Senate President Senator Barau Jibrin, emphasized the need to introduce a reward system for exceptional police officers. He stressed that Nigeria must prioritize merit, discipline, and integrity over mediocrity, favoritism, and impunity, adding that police reforms require bold actions that challenge the status quo.
Akpabio urged the PSC to adopt policies that shift the police force from being perceived as predators to protectors of the public, ensuring justice is delivered fairly. He also called for the implementation of community policing models that focus on empathy, conflict resolution, and neighborhood engagement, similar to models used in countries like Japan and Finland.
He further cited Singapore’s successful police transformation, which focused on strict recruitment standards, transparency in promotions, and strong accountability. In Nigeria, he advocated for the integration of technology into policing, the establishment of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), and a system that rewards officers based on performance and integrity.
Akpabio also acknowledged the challenges facing the Nigerian police, including funding shortages, outdated training, low morale, corruption, and public mistrust. He encouraged the PSC board to leave behind a legacy of meaningful reform and reminded them that their appointments are a call to purpose, with the responsibility to transform the police force into a trusted institution of public service and justice