…. Seeks Media Partnership on Police Act 2020
By Lucky Efese
BENIN CITY- Partners West Africa Nigeria, a human rights, a non governmental organisation promoting rule of law and empowerment initiative in support of UKaid, has organised a stakeholders workshop on human rights with the theme ”Know Your Rights” in line with the concise version of the Nigeria Police Act 2020 in accordance with the Administrative Criminal Justice Act/ Law in the South South zone.
The workshop tagged ‘Media Town hall Meeting on Human Rights’ was aimed at educating and sensitising the public on their rights to police actions in the country especially in the six geopolitical zones comprising Edo, Delta, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Rivers and Bayelsa States respectively.
In her opening remarks, the coordinator, Ore Fatuyi, outlined the significant roles of PWAN project which according to her was dedicated to enhancing citizens’ participation and improving security police governance and deepening understanding of the Police Act 2020 and Regulations across Nigeria and West Africa achieved through its rule of law
She said further that PWAN has been in operation in Nigeria since 2016 with its head office in Abuja with two sub offices in Kano and Borno States, insisting it maintains a robust pool of Thirty consultants and facilitators with expertise across various sectors including justice, security sector reform, gender mainstreaming, peace building and conflict resolution.
She said that PWAN with support from the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) to achieve these feats across the six geopolitical zones, focusing on other states like Kano, Plateau, Lagos, Enugu, Borno States including FCT.
She added that the project was to address critical lapses known as gaps in the understanding and application of the Police Act 2020 and accompany regulations within the Nigeria Police Force, saying the project uses a multifaceted approach to tackle these identified issues, including targeted workshops for police officers at various levels and public town hall meetings to raise awareness among the citizens, which would ensure that the principles of the Police Act 2020 are understood and integrated into daily practices, thereby promoting a culture of lawfulness and respect for human rights within the ambit of the police force.
The coordinator maintained that PWAN was conducting the media town hall meeting on human rights aims to educating the media on synergy in mainstreaming the police act 2020 into their reportage and its impact on police-citizen interactions which is an essential step to strengthening trust, transparency and accountability between law enforcement agents and the community.
The stakeholders workshop featured guest lecturing on presentation of the police act 2020 and regulation as well as promoting awareness of the police act; the role of the media was anchored by two distinguished Hunan rights advocates Dr. Isioma Kemakolam and Mrs Chinyere Oratokhai.
The guest lecturing outlined some deficiencies in the old police act and gave credence on the current police act 2020 which gave much leverages to functionality of the officers which include the tenure and appointment of the Inspector General of Police, gender equality in the force, educational qualifications, incentives for diligent and honest police officers among others.
The guest lecturing, despite commending the police act 2020, it also examined some defects in the behavioural tendencies of the officers regarding interrogation, arrest, warrant, use of force, stop and search, detention and bail, which according to them the citizens have rights over but sheer ignorance prevent them to know.
The state by state in the South South geopolitical zones analysis of the Administrative Criminal Justice Act/Law reveals that police take undue advantage of the ignorance of the citizens against them when it comes to committing of various offences.
The guest speakers concluded that the media must play a critical roles to address these trends and strengthen the bond between the police and the citizens through the mechanism of advocacy programmes and campaign, like orientation campaign by government and relevant authorities on television, radio, newspaper, social media platforms to give adequate awareness about the rights of the citizens as well as educating the police on the rights of the people to achieve decent and transparent police society.
Also speaking, a professor of history and international studies and diplomacy, University of Benin, Professor Eddy Erhagbe, charged media on synergy with government and other relevant authorities to educate the citizens on their rights.
The workshop was attended by media practitioners from Edo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River states. Also in attendance are members of the Civil Society Organisations, Mallam Abdulfatai Enabulele, Chief Imam of Benin Central Mosque, traditional head which include the Enogie of Iguogbe in Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State among others
