The
National Conference Standing Committee on National Security in Abuja on Monday,
recommended the scrapping of the Ministry of Police Affairs. The committee, in
an overwhelming decision, said the ministry should be replaced with a Ministry
of Homeland Security
.
Deputy Chairman of the committee, Chief Albert Horsefall, who
presided, said the new ministry if created would coordinate activities of the
National Guard, Police, Civil Defence, and the Prisons Service.
The
committee, however, said following the recommendations of the Committee on
Devolution of Power, the present centralised police structure should remain.
Horsefall said police should be reformed to make it more
effective and reflect the federal character.
He explained that the Police Council should remain the body
responsible for force policy, finances, organisation and standards.
According to him, the council will play a far greater role in
shaping the aims and objectives of the service.
He said
the council would be responsible for the appointment of the Inspector- General
of Police (IGP), on the advice of the Police Service Commission (PSC).
Horsefall said the PSC would continue to be responsible for
appointment, promotion and discipline of all officers below the IGP, except the
operational control of the police vested in the IGP.
He said PSC was expected to be independent enough to guard
against nepotism in recruitment, discipline, promotion and the dominance of the
service by any single or few ethnic groups.
The
committee also recommended the creation of Nigerian National Guard Corps to
handle internal conflicts and border control.
Horsefall said it similarly recommended the establishment of a
Rapid Response Force to deal with emergencies at all levels of government as
part of the National Guard.
He said
still within the Ministry of Homeland Security, the committee recommended the
setting up of a VIP Protection Department and the creation of Security and
Intelligence Services Inspectorate and Disciplinary Service Commission. (NAN)
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