Imoke Inaugurates State Chapter of Police Reform Committee

by crossriverwatch admin

From left, Commissioner of Police, Mr Kola Sodipo, Perm Sec Ministry of Finance, Mr. Effenji Odey, Deputy Inspector General of Police Zone 6, Mr. Jonathan Johnson, Cross River State Governor Senator Liyel Imoke, his Deputy Mr. Efiok Cobham and Secretary to the State Government Mr. Mike Aniah all members of the 5-man Zonal Police Reform Committee shortly after its inauguration by the governor in Calabar, yesterday.

Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River State has urged members of the state chapter of the Police Reform Committee to put in their best and be committed for it to achieve its set Goals.

Speaking while inaugurating the committee, Imoke who is chairman in the state, assured that despite its low financial standing, everything will be done for the overall interest of the State.

Imoke explained that following the setting up of the committee at the Federal level with the Vice President, Arc. Namadi Sambo as its Chairman and Inspector General of Police Mr. Abubakar Muhammed as Vice Chairman, and the minister of Finance and others as members, States were advised by the, National Economic Council (NEC) to inaugurate their committees with the objective of embarking on modalities to enhance and strengthen the functions of police at state level.

The Governor, who represents the south-south governors in the federal committee, noted that by the arrangement, he was inaugurating the committee with the Deputy Inspector General of Police Jonathan Johnson as Vice Chairman and the state commissioner of police, Kola Sodipo, Commissioner of Finance and the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) as members.

He noted that the committee is saddled with the responsibility of initiating ideas on how the police could be funded by states to enhance its proficiency and efficiency, adding that the state is committed to setting substantial amount of funding to sustain and improve upon its high level peace and social stability.

The Governor said efforts will be made to see how the public and private sectors in the state could contribute meaningfully to the success of the committee because such a proactive dispensation also underscores the extent to which government regards peace and order as panacea to attaining its development target.

Imoke noted that deductions made at source at each state will be applied for the security of the state and that they at the committee level would see how it could be expended to ensure quick intervention.

He observed that though security votes to states have specific functions, that of the committee is instituted to strengthen security and assured that the committee would be set to work once its area of needs are identified.

Speaking earlier, Mr Rekpene Bassey, the State Security Adviser, said the inauguration which has been carried out in some states was a presidential directive following a recommendation from NEC that it should be established both at federal and state levels.