Reps Call for Auctioning of Police Barracks to Improve Officer Living Conditions

• The Nigerian House of Representatives seeks to address poor police living conditions by proposing the auctioning of police barracks
• A committee will amend the Police Reform Bill, reallocate funds for “Housing Allowance,” and ensure compliance to improve officers’ welfare

The House of Representatives has called for the auctioning of police barracks across the country in a bid to address the deplorable living conditions faced by police officers. This decision was made following the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance by Rep. Murphy Omoruyi during a plenary session in Abuja.

Omoruyi explained that the National Assembly had passed the Police Reform Bill 2020, which was signed into law by former President Muhammadu Buhari on September 16, 2020. One of the main objectives of this Act was to address the living conditions of the nation’s police officers.

However, the problem of providing adequate and dignified accommodation for police officers remains despite substantial federal government spending on barracks renovations between 2019 and 2022, amounting to over N5 billion. These efforts at rehabilitation have not been successful.

Omoruyi argued that police officers should live among the general population rather than in isolated barracks, which he characterized as a relic of colonial practices that colonialists have since abandoned. The living conditions in these barracks are deplorable, with issues such as large cracks in the walls, bat-infested houses, and leaking roofs.

The poor living conditions have contributed to a negative public perception of police officers, and this, in turn, affects their morale and productivity. Omoruyi emphasized that without urgent attention to this issue, the welfare of police officers will continue to deteriorate.

To address the problem, the House of Representatives proposed the abolition of the barracks model and its replacement with an enhanced “Housing Allowance” determined by rank, the existing police salary structure, and location. The House called on the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Police Affairs to work with the Bureau of Public Enterprise to assess the value of all federal-owned barracks in the country and initiate a public offering for them.

Additionally, an ad hoc committee was formed to produce a comprehensive amendment to the Police Reform Bill, with input from relevant stakeholders. The Committee on Appropriation was tasked with reallocating funds meant for barracks maintenance to provide a befitting “Housing Allowance” for serving police officers. The Committee on Police Affairs was mandated to ensure compliance with these measures and report back to the House within four weeks for further legislative action.