Chief Albert Horsefall, the Deputy Chairman of the National Conference Standing Committee on National Security has called for the scrapping of the Ministry of Police Affairs.
* Minister of Police Affairs, Navy Captain Caleb Olubolade (rtd.)
Making the call in Abuja on Monday, Horsefall recommended that the Ministry of Police Affairs should be replaced with a Ministry of Homeland Security.
Horsefall, stated that 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, but the police should be reformed to make it more effective and reflect the federal character.
Horsefall said that the Police Council should remain the body responsible for force policy, finances, organisation and standards.
He explained that the council will play a far greater role in shaping the aims and objectives of the service, and that would be responsible for the appointment of the Inspector- General of Police (IGP), on the advice of the Police Service Commission (PSC).
According to him, 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.
Horsefall said that 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 further recommended the creation of Nigerian National Guard Corps to handle internal conflicts and border control, as well as the establishment of a Rapid Response Force to deal with emergencies at all levels of government as part of the National Guard.
Horsefall pointed out that 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.
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