All is now set for the official launch, by the Nigeria Police High Command of the special ‘Code of Conduct and Professional Standards for officers of the Nigeria Police Force’, scheduled to take place on the 19th day of November, 2012 at International Conference Centre, Abuja.
The new “Code of Conduct” is a set of rules collated
and formulated under the leadership of the current Inspector-General of Police,
IGP MD Abubakar, for guiding and regulating the behaviours of Police officers
in Nigeria – both while on or off duty. The Code contains standard policing
rules as well as contemporary international best practices in law enforcement
as available in various United Nations Conventions, the Nigeria constitution,
Police Act and Regulations and other domestic statutes. It is intended to be
used y Police Officers in determining what is right and proper in all their
actions. The Code is designed to promote efficiency and effectiveness of Police
services by promoting transparency, accountability and a deeper sense of
civilian oversight on police activities. It is further intended to promote
discipline, professionalism and strict adherence to due process in police
activities and operations. Its institution within the Force is therefore part
of measures by the IGP to promote the Federal Government transformational
agenda, through deliberate and conscious efforts at encouraging positive
attitudinal change amongst all cadres of officers within the Force. Thus, its
launch is meant to generate the needed awareness among Government Officials,
members of the Force and the general public; and to formally announce the
enforcement of the “Code” both as a guide for all personnel of the Force, as
well as an instrument for monitoring the conduct of inpidual Police officers in
the daily performance of their duties, by the Police High Command and the
public. It is the earnest belief of the IGP that the “Code” will improve the
standards and outputs of the Force and make it an enviable Law Enforcement
Organization that will best serve the interest of Nigerians. The IGP once again
solicits the cooperation and understanding of the public at ensuring the
successful implementation of the “Code” as it marks another mile stone in
current efforts at repositioning the Force. He believes that getting it right
with the Code, will no doubt, amount to getting it right with the Force; and
this will in turn translate to getting it right with the overall security of
Nigeria and her teeming citizens. Dignitaries expected at the event include:
the President and Commander in Chief of Armed Forces of the Federation- Dr
Goodluck Ebele Jonathan GCFR, the leadership of the National Assembly,
Executive Governors from the 36 States of the Federation, Service Chiefs,
Senior Government Officials, members of the Diplomatic Corps, Senior Police
Officers, etc.
