The Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, on Thursday sought the support of the Nigeria Governors Forum for the passage of the Nigeria Police Trust Fund bill now before the National Assembly.
The Force Spokesman, Jimoh Moshood, in a statement in Abuja, said Idris made the call at a meeting with the forum in Abuja on Thursday.
He said that if the bill was passed, the police would have enough fund to effectively police the nation.
Idris said: “Let me use this opportunity to appeal to your Excellencies to prevail on your representatives at the National Assembly to ensure the passage of the bill.
“It is my sincere believe that once the Police Trust Fund Bill is passed into law, the necessary finances required to effectively police the Nation will be available.”
He said that this would also reduce the pressure on the State Governments in the funding of the Police Force.
The I-G noted that the Nigeria Police was one of the “least paid” security organisations in the world in spite of operating under the UN ratio of 1:400.
He added that with the current ratio of 1: 602 the Nigeria Police was operating far below the United Nation’s ratio.
Idris lamented: “About 10,000 Police Officers have been recruited recently to fill the gap but this is still a far cry.
“To meet up with the UN ratio of 1:400, the Nigeria police require additional 155,000 Police Officers for the next five years.”
He said that a request to recruit 31,000 policemen had been sent to President Muhammadu Buhari for approval.
On the establishment of State Police, the I-G said he was not unaware of the agitations by some groups for the creation of State Police.
He said that with improved funding of the police, the rate of crime in the country would be addressed.
He said: “I sincerely believe that the Federal Police is still the best for the country and with improved funding the challenges of crime will be addressed.
“Those agitating for state Police should consider the level of our Political maturity.”
The I-G said that the current Police Management was making efforts to establish structures that would bridge the communication gap between the Police and members of the public.
Idris said one of such structures included the establishment of the Nigeria Police Broadcasting Service.
He said: “When commissioned, it will broadcast Nationwide on TV, Radio, online and the National Emergency Communication Command Control Centre.
The Chairman of the Forum, Governor Abdul’Aziz Yari of Zamfara, who assured the police boss the support of the forum, said security was everybody’s business.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that a public hearing on the Nigeria Police Trust Fund was organised by the House of Representatives Committee on Police Affairs on July 1.
The bill seeks to provide alternative funding for the police.