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| The Police |
However, given the numerous problems afflicting the higher education sector in the country, government's plan for the police has raised genuine apprehension that the proposal may achieve no more than create yet another institution of higher learning with little prospect of producing better graduates. There is also the question as to whether the university can resolve the intractable problems hampering police efficiency in the country.
The development followed the council's approval of a draft bill for an "Act to provide for the establishment of the Nigeria Police University, Wudil, Kano," presented by the Ministry of Police Affairs. This was sequel to government's endorsement of the report of the Presidential Committee on the Reform of the Nigeria Police Force. If the law goes through, the university will emerge from the upgrading of the Police Academy at Wudil in Kano State, into a degree-awarding institution.
The Minister of Information said the upgraded academy "will afford the police personnel the opportunity to acquire higher and liberal education that will nurture, equip and produce globally competitive police graduates with requisite knowledge, skills and attitude suitable for learning, scholarship, policing and community service."
Certainly, these objectives are lofty. Education is a key factor in promoting efficiency and development, values that are in short supply within the Nigeria Police Force. In particular, it is believed that equipping the top police hierarchy with qualitative higher education is a major step towards rebuilding the police as an institution. In theory at least, a police university can help to solve problems of manpower shortage, in addition to raising capacity and operational efficiency. A more professionally educated police hierarchy would hopefully provide better leadership for the rank and file.
The peculiarities of the Nigerian situation however necessitate that this idea be applied practically, lest it becomes a white elephant project. Unless the proposed university is carefully tailored to meet pressing problems confronting the police, the chances are that it may end up as another glorified, degree-awarding institution. Unfortunately, the country already has too many of such institutions, whose graduates are largely unemployable.
The usual complaints, commonly associated with the police, revolve around its inadequacy in terms of number, equipment, funding, motivation and training. Of course, the Police Force is also generally considered a corrupt and inefficient organisation. Ordinarily, we would expect that existing police colleges such as those in Ikeja, Lagos and the academy at Wudil, Kano are best suited for providing the requisite training for the police rank and file. The creation of a Police University should not result in their abandonment. These centres may be expanded for practical purposes, and strengthened to deliver better professional training.
University education in Nigeria faces a serious crisis in relation to funding, manpower and tradition. In what way would a Police University be different? Would it not have been advisable to make the proposed Police Academy a faculty in select regular, existing universities to give the students the benefit of both professional and academic training in the midst of the same civilians they are required to serve?
We hope that the lure of university degrees will not become a disincentive for the pursuance of core police duties. There is a risk too that the university may spur other law enforcement institutions to demand their own universities. By and large, the police need drastic reform, to enhance its public image, and to transform itself into a modern, and efficient law enforcement institution. The FEC has not fully explained the short and long term objectives of the proposed university, and how it hopes to achieve these. In the mean time, Nigerians are desperately in need of a police force that can guarantee the security of lives and property.
Editorial from the Guardian of 16th May, 2010
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