Some groups concerned about the improvement of the standard of policing in the country have condemned the deplorable living and training condition of the Police Training College, Ikeja, and have demanded a probe of the Federal Government’s spending on trainees’ welfare in the college in the last 10 years.
A Channels Television report had revealed the appalling conditions under which Police trainees takes their courses at the college, provoking anger among hordes of viewers including President Goodluck Jonathan who promptly paid an unscheduled visit to the training institution. He was shocked by the dreadful state of the hostel, beddings, kitchen and environment.
Commenting on the development in Abuja on Monday, National Coordinator, Improved Policing Initiative of Nigeria, Mr. Joe Amadi described the pitiable condition of the college as incredible.
“The Improved Policing initiative was shocked at the appalling condition of Ikeja Police College and has called for a probe of Federal Government funding of the college in the past five years,” he said
He expressed the belief of the NGO that the level of funding of the prime police training college over the years in amidst several police reforms could not be below what is obtained in other Federal Government training institutions.
Similarly, a non-governmental organisation, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has joined in the call for urgent probe of the spending for the Police trainees’ welfare in the last 10 years.
SERAP made its position known in a petition dated January18, 2013, which was addressed to Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practice and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) Chairman, Mr Ekpo Nta.
A copy of the petition signed by Mr Adetokunbo Mumuni, Executive Director, SERAP, was made available to newsmen.
“SERAP believes that investigation by the ICPC into the spending of budgets meant for police colleges across the country would provide the much needed accountability< a part of the statement read.
“This will help to establish whether the money budgeted to improve the infrastructure in the colleges and welfare of its trainees has been spent as allocated or simply stolen, misused or mismanaged.”
