- Ask President To Review Board CompositionÂ
In unison, a coalition of eighty-two Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Nigeria have raised red flag over the newly constituted board of Police Trust Fund by President Muhammadu Buhari, pointing out infractions in the action.
Recall the constitution of the Board of Trustees for the Nigeria Police Trust Fund was announced on May 6, 2020 by Senior Special Assistant to the President (Media & Publicity), Garba Shehu almost a year after the Trust Fund bill was passed into law in 2019.
The trust fund is to serve as alternative funding sources for the Nigeria Police to address the funding and equipment deficits and enhance the operational capability, training, welfare and morale of its work force.
But the CSOs in a jointly signed statement said despite the undue delay in constituting the Board of Trustees to the Fund and providing the initial take off grant by the federal government, the President failed to comply with a number of provisions as stated in the Nigeria Police Trust Fund Establishment Act 2019.
The statement was made available to The New Diplomat by Executive Director of Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Mr. Auwal Rafsanjani.
Other signatories include: Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC); Civil Society Network Against Corruption (CSNAC); Social Intervention Advocacy Foundation- (SIAF); Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) and Yiaga Africa.
Among issues generating widespread concerns on the newly constituted board was the breach of the Federal Character Principle in appointing the Chairman and Executive Secretary of the board.
“The appointment of retired Inspector-General of Police, Suleiman Abba, as Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Nigeria Police Trust Fund, and the appointment of Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto as the Executive Secretary of the Board breach the Federal Character Principle and Law. They both come from the same geopolitical zone. Section 14(3) of the Constitution provides that ” The composition of the Government of the Federation or any of its agencies and the conduct of its affairs shall be carried out in such a manner as to reflect the federal character of Nigeria and the need to promote national unity.”
Concerns raised by the CSOs also border on the penchant by successive presidents to appoint retired Inspectors General of Police to head institutions or mechanisms in the polic, saying this has denied the police force the opportunity of having experienced private sector administrators to drive sustainable changes in the force.
“Is being a former IGP the only criteria or qualification for appointment as Chairman of the Trust Fund? How well has the Police Service Commission fared under successive retired IGPs as Chairman? A Trust Fund needs to be chaired by an experienced private sector administrator with integrity and expertise in financial management. It also needs to be insulated from politics and bureaucracy. The Lagos State Security Trust Fund owes its success to this fact and the inbuilt system of transparency and Accountability in the management and control of donated funds. Moreover, the Act does not specifically indicate in the composition of the Board of Trustees in Section 7, who shall be chairman,” the statement read.
Also, the CSOs kicked at the failure by the President to consult with key stakeholders and critical interests in the appointments before constituting the board.
“There is no evidence of consultation by the President before appointing people purported to represent various interest groups and key stakeholders. An example is the appointment of one Dr. Michael Bamidele Adebiyi to represent Civil Society. This appointee, his organisation, work and experience are unknown in the civil society community in Nigeria, especially among groups working on police and criminal justice reform issues. We therefore wonder who in civil society was consulted before he was appointed.
“Civil society played a prominent role in the process leading to the passage of the Police Trust Fund Bill into law. Thus, the law’s provision for the inclusion of a civil society representative, among other key stakeholders, in the Board of Trustees.”
They added that “the appointment and composition of the Trustees of the Police Trust Fund should be beyond primordial considerations. It must inspire trust in the police, potential donors and the general public. If it does not, then the Trust Fund is dead on arrival.”
While making a four-point demand to address the stated infractions noticed in the setting up of the Trust Fund Board, the CSOs asked President Buhari to immediately “Review the composition of the Trust Fund to ensure that it complies with the requirements of the law, particularly, the Federal Character Principle.
“Ensure adequate and wide consultations with critical stakeholders and interest groups to ensure that those who are appointed to represent them in the Board enjoy legitimacy, credibility and trust.
“Ensure that the person to chair the Board is selected based on clear criteria which should include, among others, that the person comes from the private sector, has relevant experience, is suitable and competent in public management and has integrity and capable of inspiring trust.
“Explain the inconsistency in references to board membership in the Act and consider an amendment to the Act to address the concerns raised.”
Among other signatories to the statement were: Public Interest Lawyers League (PILL); Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC); Partners West Africa- Nigeria; International Peace and Civic Responsibility Center (IPCRC) and International Human Rights and Equity Defense Foundation (I-REF); International Press Centre (IPC) and SPACES FOR CHANGE.
