The Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), a nongovernmental group, has issued a high-stakes roadmap for Acting Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Ridwan Disu, warning that the new police chief faces a “moment of institutional reckoning” that requires immediate, systemic reform.
In a comprehensive agenda released on Wednesday, which was seen by Securitynewsalert.com, RULAAC Executive Director Okechukwu Nwanguma emphasised that Disu’s appointment comes at a time when public trust in the Nigeria Police Force has been severely eroded by corruption and human rights abuses.
The group argued that the Acting IGP must move beyond rhetoric to address the deep-seated “institutional challenges” that have long plagued the force.
“The expectations are high, the institutional challenges are deep, and the opportunity for transformational leadership is real,” Nwanguma stated. “The Acting IGP can either manage entrenched dysfunction or champion a transformation anchored in welfare reform, accountability, and professionalism.”
At the top of the priority list is a demand to address the “welfare crisis” facing both serving and retired officers. RULAAC identified inadequate pay, dilapidated barracks, and delayed pensions as primary drivers of corruption and low morale.
The group noted that a neglected workforce cannot be expected to deliver professional service, urging Disu to conduct a nationwide welfare audit and push the Federal Government for improved funding.
The advocacy group also called for a decisive crackdown on “rogue units” that have become symbols of impunity. Specifically, RULAAC pointed to the Anti-Kidnapping Unit in Owerri, known as “Tiger Base,” and the notorious legacy of the former SARS unit in Awkuzu.
“Tiger Base has faced persistent allegations of torture, arbitrary detention, extortion, and serious human rights violations, including organ harvesting claims,” the group noted. “The Acting IGP must order independent investigations into all credible allegations and dismantle abusive operational cultures. Without accountability, reform rhetoric will lack credibility.”
On the issue of legal compliance, RULAAC urged Disu to ensure the force strictly adheres to the Police Act 2020. This includes respecting suspects’ rights to counsel, ending the practice of “bail racketeering,” and obeying court orders, citing the specific case of Gloria Okolie, where an ECOWAS Court judgment remains unfulfilled.
The agenda further highlighted the need for gender equality within the force and the importance of neutral electoral policing as the nation looks toward future polls. RULAAC suggested that the deployment of technology, such as body cameras and digital case management, would be essential in curbing checkpoint extortion and the manipulation of case files.
“Public trust is earned through integrity and consistency,” the statement continued. “Nigeria needs a police force that is trusted by citizens, respected by courts, and supported by its personnel. The moment calls for courage, and history will remember whether it was seized.”
As Disu takes the reins, the eyes of the nation remain on the Force Headquarters to see if these recommendations will be integrated into a formal Annual Policing Plan or if the “institutional reckoning” will result in the status quo.
