Federal Government to amend police act after 69 years
The Federal Government has commenced moves to amend the Police Act which has been in existence since 1948 to reflect current realities, Solicitor General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Justice, Mr Dayo Apata has said.
Speaking in Lagos on Tuesday at the conference of Network of Justice Reform Team put together by the Federal Justice Sector Reform Co-ordinating Committee (FJSRCC) in partnership with Lagos State Government, European Union and the British Council, Apata said aside the Police Act, the government was also in the process of implementing reforms aimed at decongesting prisons in the country.
He said to underscore the commitment of the present administration to reform the justice sector, a National Policy on Justice which is the first of its kind in Nigeria was recently adopted in collaboration with key stakeholders, adding that by the development, the country can now boast of a policy that declares the collective aspiration for the justice system.
Giving further details, Apata said the policy also provides a blueprint which outlines the various reforms desirable in the justice sector to engender smooth, fair, just and transparent administration of justice system.
According to him, “Aside the judicial reforms, presently, the Federal Ministry of Justice is also engaging in police reform. As at today, we are trying to work on the Police Act which we have been using since 1948 or thereabouts’.
