The ancient city of Ibadan, capital of Oyo State, comes alive on Tuesday as stakeholders in the policing and security sectors descend on the city for a two-day National Retreat themed “Civilian Oversight In Nigeria”.
According to Ikechukwu Ani, Head of Press and Public Relations, the Police Service Commission is facilitating the retreat, which is supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
The National Assembly’s leadership, the Chief Justice of the Federation, the Attorney General of the Federation, the National Security Adviser, officials from the Ministry of Police Affairs, the Nigeria Police Force, and the National Human Rights Commission are all expected to attend the Retreat.
The German Ambassador to Nigeria, Amb. Annet Gunther, as well as the Nigeria Union of Journalists and other notable civil society organisations, are also expected.
Mr. Seyi Makinde, the Executive Governor of Oyo State, will open the two-day programme tomorrow, Tuesday, June 11, 2024, with eight sessions.
The first session will focus on policing and oversight, practices, and challenges, with a keynote paper by Prof. Edoba Bright Omoregie, a senior advocate in Nigeria, and lead discussants Babatunde Dada, Director Legal Services, Police Service Commission; Hon Abubakar Makki Yalleman, Chairman House Committee on Police; and Mrs Chigozirim Okoro of CLEEN Foundation.
The second session will provide an overview of the Police Act 2020, with Kemi Okenyodo, Executive Director of Partners West Africa/Nigeria and Senior Gender Advisor UNDP, leading the discussion. The session will cover (i) key changes and (ii) security sector governance, including examining and maximising the National Assembly’s powers and roles.
Session 3 will continue with an overview of the Police Act, with Senator (Rev) Amos Yohanna, Chairman of, the Senate Committee on Police, contributing to the analysis of the responsibilities of the Police Service Commission, Ministry of Police Affairs, and their implications for police practice.
Mrs Anuli Okoli, Director Department of Police Investigations, PSC, will continue the overview of the same Act in session 4 by discussing the responsibilities of the National Human Rights Commission, the Chief Justice of the Federation, and the Attorney General of the Federation, as well as the implications for police practice.
The fifth session with Napoleon Enayaba, Representative of the UNDP in Nigeria, will focus on the imperatives of national, state, and local policing plans, emphasising the importance of strategic planning, coordination, and coherence among the oversight bodies.
Session six will focus on civilian oversight, the role of the media, and civil society, with Prof. Olu Ogunsakin moderating discussions about implementations, challenges, and solutions.
The Seventh Session will focus on coordination, collaboration, and innovation, with Nathaniel Danyibo leading the discussion. Brighten Saagwe, Director, Department of Police Promotions, Police Service Commission, is expected to lead the discussion on action planning for continuous improvement.
Session eight will focus on police detention, conditions, and judicial accountability, with discussions led by Deputy Inspector General of Police Frank Mba. There will also be a presentation about human rights, detention conditions, and judicial acceptability.
The Retreat’s Convener and Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Dr. Solomon Arase CFR, retired Inspector General of Police, who is already in Ibadan, stated that the programme will bring together all stakeholders in the policing sector to brainstorm on the best ways to manage policing and oversight in Nigeria for better results.
He promised that the outcome would turn things around and improve relationships in the country’s chain of oversight bodies, as well as lay the groundwork for the implementation of a National Policing Plan.
Meanwhile, Retreat delegates have arrived in Ibadan and are on their way to the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) venue for the programme.
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