By Amos Tauna
Determined to ensure improved its performance in all ramifications, the Nigeria Police Force said it has forwarded a bill to the National Assembly, “Police Trust Fund” if approved, seek to improve the funding of its activities in the country.
The effect of the passage of the bill, according to Deputy Inspector General of Police, North West zone, Alhaji Dikko Maigari Abbati during a stateholders meeting in Kaduna, northwest Nigeria, Monday, noted that it would improve service delivery in the police force.
He explained that the idea of the Police Trust Fund was revisited by the present Inspector General of Police which was sent to the National Assembly in 2008 without anything done on the bill.
“The present Inspector General of Police decided to give it a retrial and with the help of concerned Nigerians on the need to improve police welfare to enhance its performance of the police force. The bill has gone through the first reading and will soon go to the second reading before the public hearing,” he emphasized.
With the Police Trust Fund, he believes that the Nigeria Police would have another source of funding different projects different from the budget, adding that with improved funding, there would be improved service delivery to the general public.
The Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, had complained of the incessant cases of forceful marriage and conversion of minors to another religion without the consent of their parents, calling on the police to take decisive measures towards arresting the ugly situation for a healthy and harmonious coexistence in the country.
CAN stressed the need for continuous recruiting of police persnnel to meet the increase presence of police in every nook and cranny in the country.
The Jama’atu Nasir Islam requested that suspected criminals be made public for easy identification by members of their families and communities for immediate action against the suspects as a means of curtailing their criminal activities in the society.
The traditional rulers appealed to the federal government to improve the funding of police to enable them cope with increasing insecurity in the country, pointing out that with improved welfare package, the police personnel would be alive to their responsibilities.