Jonathan writes Reps over police reform

President Goodluck Jonathan has written the House of Representatives on the planned reform in the Nigeria Police saying that the reform is to be implemented for a period of six years at the estimated cost of N1.5 trillion. The president’s correspondence was read at the plenary on Wednesday by the Speaker, Honourable Aminu Tambuwal, entitled, ‘Strategy for the implementation of the Nigeria Police reform programme (NPRP).’ The letter read in part: “You may wish to note that the Federal Government had since April 2008 approved the M.D. Yusuf Report for the reform of the Nigeria Police and consequently inaugurated the Interim Implementation Committee for Police Reform Programme (IICPRP). “Sixty per cent funding of the programme was to be sourced from the three tiers of government and the organised private sector and international development partners. “The combined annual contributions from the public sector comprising federal, state, and local governments was estimated to be N150 billion, of which $479,020 billion was to be from the Federal Government. “Notwithstanding the commitment, the realistic flow of funds has met with setbacks to the effect that the reform implementation has been tardy, even as security challenges keep increasing. “In a decisive move to address the situation, the IICPRP set up a Funding Technical Sub-Committee to advise on the most effective way to fund the Nigeria Police Force Reform Programme. “The Committee, among other things, recommended special funding by the three tiers of government to be sourced in the next six years. “The report of the Committee was subsequently presented to the National Economic Council (NEC) for consideration. “The National Economic Council agreed to and recommended a deduction of one per cent from the monthly allocations of the Federal, State, and Local Governments, to be sourced as a first line charge subject to legislative endorsement at both Federal and State levels for interested participating States.