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CLEEN harps on policing reform, accountability of judicial system

CLEEN harps on policing reform, accountability of judicial system

A non-governmental organization, CLEEN Foundation, in collaboration with the Macarthur Foundation, has emphasized sustainable policing reform and accountability in the justice sector in Nigeria.

The group observed that policing reforms in Nigeria have often been seen as progress that lacks substantive impact despite various legislative measures and policy interventions. State actors’ effective implementation and compliance remain significant challenges, with little room for citizens’ perspectives and voices to be captured in the reform processes.

To this end, the Foundation advocated for a better policing reform infrastructure to safeguard citizens’ lives and properties in Nigeria.

The director of programme CLEEN Foundation, Mr. Salaudeen Hasim, in his presentation during a one-day workshop on policy brief media presentation themed: “Policing reforms and accountability of Justice sector actors in Nigeria” in Lagos, stated that the citizens believed that, for policing to be very effective, oversight must be strengthened and there must be some level of internal strengthening of the entire system.

Hasim stated further that despite a perceived lack of political will for comprehensive reform, incremental progress has been made through legislation since 2015, including the passage of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (2015), Anti-Torture Act (2017), Police Trust Fund Act (2019), Nigeria Correctional Service Act (2019), and the amendment of the Police Act (2020).

“While these laws aim to promote effective policing and accountability and provide the necessary legal framework for improved policing and effective justice delivery in Nigeria, effective implementation and compliance by state actors remain a significant challenge.

“In some of our findings across the States where, we were able to identify some of the challenges, which were largely around lack of awareness of the legal provisions governing policing, recruitment into the policing institutions, unprofessional conduct by security personnel, poor welfare of Security personnel, and absence of citizen oversight of policing institutions.

“Despite the challenges raised in Delta, few strides were recorded which include the establishment of the Delta state Security Trust Fund, the Delta state Policing Group, and the existence of Local Policing Group in Ibuzo called Peace Ambassadors complementing the formal police structure.”

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