Femi Gbajabiamila, Speaker of the House of Representatives, says lawless police officers must be punished to restore the police force’s dignity.

According to Channels TV, the speaker stated this during a public hearing on the Police Service Commission Act (Repeal and Re-Enactment) Bill 2020 and the National Institute for Police Studies (Establishment) Bill 2020.

Birthed by the #EndSARS agitation of 2020, the bill seeks to reform the Police Service Commission structure, proposing a reorganisation of the commission to receive and investigate complaints against Police Officers.

If passed, this bill will also raise the minimum requirement for recruitment into the constabulary and recruit more qualified candidates into the Nigerian Police Force.

Speaking on the bill, Mr Gbajabiamila noted that there was a need to fish out erring officers in the police force for the sake of the good officers who risk their lives daily.

“We must attempt to weed out the few rotten eggs that seem to give the police force, men and women who lay their lives and put their lives out there on a daily for you and me a (bad name) and that is why we are taking this bill seriously,” Mr Gbajabiamila said.

He stressed that the House of Representatives under his leadership was committed to reforming the Nigerian security architecture, emphasising the nation’s policing system and law enforcement.

Adding that Nigerians deserve a police force that they can trust, the speaker outlined the need to prioritise recruitment, training and operational priorities.

“They deserve a police force that acts within the limits of the law and respects the rule of law. We will do everything in our power to meet these expectations,” Mr Gbajabiamila added.

“There is a need for concerted efforts to address recruitment and training, funding and operational priorities.”

Mr Gbajabiamila charged that achieving the objectives was non-negotiable.

Last year, there were widespread protests against police brutality and extortion, particularly in the SARS unit.

Part of the protesters’ agitations was a reform in the salary structure of the police force and the disbandment of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the Nigerian police force.