EXAMINATION OF THE IMPACT OF THE POLICE ACT, 2020: NEED FOR AMENDMENT

Abstract

Suffice it to say, that the Nigeria Police Force was established pursuant to Section 214 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended. By the aforesaid Section, it is the principal domestic security agency, saddled with the responsibility of ensuring peace, order and good government of Nigeria. The National Assembly is vested with the power to make laws for the agency and, in pursuance of the aforesaid power, the Nigeria Police Force (Establishment) Act, 2020, was enacted, to replace the defunct Police Act, 2004. The Act was greeted with optimism because it departed from the previous Act in several respects, which would be discussed herein. Having been in existence for a period of five years now, it became pertinent to explore the benefits and the likely areas of concerns from the Act that may call for further review or judicial attention in order to strengthen the Nigeria Police System in the discharge of its constitutional responsibility. In the light of the foregoing, therefore, the work aims to explore the positive aspects of the Act and also to examine the grey areas that may be affected in some aspects of Nigeria’s jurisprudence. The work has employed the doctrinal research methodology in consonance with legal research. The work established that the Act has promoted constitutionalism to certain extent and addressed national security concerns. Conversly, the work also found that the Act conflicts with some legal principles and has yet to address some salient issues related to police force. It proffers sound recommendations that would lead to tackling the grey areas via legislative amendment or repeal and or judicial activism.