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The Rule of Law and Empowerment Initiative (RULAAC), also known as Partner West Africa Nigeria (PWAN), has organised a one-day training workshop for media practitioners on Reporting Police Reform and Accountability Issues to support the implementation of the Nigeria Police Act 2020.
The workshop featured resource persons Aisha Abubakar, Jackson Odeh, and Ms. Folusho Oluwole, who engaged journalists on the overview of police reform, key provisions of the Police Act 2020, the role of the media and citizens in strengthening accountability, developmental reporting, solutions journalism, and the need to humanise the police in reportage.
Discussions focused on building public trust through community engagement, transparency, training, and collaboration between the police and citizens. Participants were encouraged to promote responsible journalism that supports accountability while recognising the human side of policing.
The resource persons described the Nigeria Police Act 2020 as a major step towards addressing police brutality, promoting community policing, protecting human rights, and strengthening oversight mechanisms such as the Police Service Commission and the Complaints Response Unit.
Speaking on the role of the media, Aisha Abubakar noted that the Act provides for a more effective and responsive police service founded on accountability, transparency, human rights protection, and partnership with communities.
Also speaking, Ms. Folusho Oluwole urged journalists to adopt solutions-oriented and developmental reporting, work collaboratively with the police in crime prevention, and ensure accurate verification of reports while humanising police personnel in their coverage.
