Police reform: Akunyili wants Govs to control CPs


 Former Minister of Information and Communications, Prof Dora Akunyili, has made case for reform in the hierarchical structure that will give state governors power to control Commissioners of Police in their respective states. Stressing the need for reforms in all facets of the Nigerian society at Seventh College of Science Lecture Series organised by the Bells University of Technology (BELLSTECH), Ota, Ogun State, she argued that a way should be fashioned out such that governors would have control over CPs without necessarily undermining the authority of the Inspector General of Police (IGP). “A situation where governors are the Chief Security Officers of their states only in name, will not in any way enhance the security situation in the country,” she added. Akunyili, former Director General, National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), said the present situation where the various security agencies are working at cross purposes should be brought to an end. She maintained that security agents should be better remunerated and equipped to ensure improved security of lives and properties of the citizens. “The police in particular, must be properly trained and equipped and their welfare taken care of if they are to do well. “The police salary structure today is a disaster. How can an ill-equipped policeman, who earns peanuts, put his life on the line in protecting anybody? “It is like going to a war hungry, with a machete against a well fed enemy with an armoured tank. That will be senseless and suicidal. “Our security agencies will remain ineffective as long as they are not well remunerated and ill equipped,” she said. Speaking against the background of the high rate of killings in the country, Akunyili, backs the call for a dialogue with all aggrieved parties to the insecurity situation in the country. Reminded that the Boko Haram group is faceless, she argued that the group had remained faceless due to lack of trust in the peace process as being championed by the government and various interest groups in the country. According to her, “I believe that problems are better solved through dialogue than through violence. “Therefore, let us find out what the grievances of each warring group are and see how far we can towards meeting their demands. She promised Nigerians to fight any person or group of persons involved in illicit drug business and counterfeiting with her foundation, noting that her desire for the country was to see a Nigeria where people will be proud to live in and stop making reference to their states of origin. In line with this desire, she called on the National Assembly to use the window of opportunity of the on-going attempt to amend the constitution to remove the state of origin clause from the constitution. She said the clause had contributed in no small measure towards destroying the spirit of oneness and patriotism among Nigerians, noting that there is no better time to do so than now. Daily Independent