The Rule of Law and Empowerment Initiative, says the 2020 Police Reforms Act, was enacted by former President Muhammadu Buhari Government to reduce allegations of brutality, corruption and indiscriminate detention of suspects without prosecution for days.
To this end, the Rule of Law and Empowerment Initiative, also known as Partners West Africa Nigeria (PWAN) with support from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), in a one-day workshop for media practitioners on the reform and accountability issues introduced several measures for journalist’s to use in ensuring that the act is fully implemented.
The event brought together reporters, editors, presenters and producers from print, broadcast, and digital media to enhance professional reporting on policing and justice sector reforms.
In her presentation titled, “What is Police Reform: Overview of the Police Act and the Role of Media and Citizens in Ensuring a Robust Reform Framework,” PWAN Program Manager Aisha Isa Yusuf provided a comprehensive overview of the Police Act 2020.
She urged media practitioners to raise public awareness about the provisions of the Act, noting that the law introduced reforms to address human rights violations, protect the dignity of suspects and safeguard lives and property.
Isa-Yusuf explained that the Act prohibits arrest in lieu, prevents police interference in civil or contractual disputes and ensure that women who meet bail conditions are not denied bail.
“There are new provisions in the Police Act that replace outdated colonial practices. The public must be sensitised on these reforms to promote a safer and more accountable society,” she said.
She further emphasised the role of the media in monitoring police conduct at the grassroots level and ensuring accountability through investigative and solutions-driven reporting.
Isa-Yusuf urged journalists to verify information through forensic journalism, sustain public engagement through cross-platform reporting and follow up cases until court verdicts are delivered.
Also speaking, a facilitator, Odoh Okenyodo, stressed the need for developmental and solutions journalism in addressing policing challenges.
He noted that journalists should highlight effective reforms while exposing existing gaps, adding that balanced reporting would enhance understanding between the police and the public.
“We are not saying journalists should stop investigative reporting. Rather, we are encouraging the use of solutions journalism as an additional tool to address complex policing challenges,” he said.
Another facilitator, Aro Leonard, called on journalists to leverage their influence in promoting transparency and reform within the policing system.
He said the media has significant power to shape public discourse and hold institutions accountable through factual and balanced reporting.
He explained the differences between developmental reporting and solutions journalism and demonstrated how artificial intelligence tools can aid effective news writing.
Participants engaged in practical exercises under a session tagged “Humanizing the Police and Policing,” crafting topics for news stories and programs on police reform, human rights, and police welfare.
Other sessions addressed ethics and language that build reform rather than incite rage, mainstreaming the Police Act in reporting, arrest, stop-and-search procedures, profiling, and strategies for building local accountability.
Aro said journalists are the mouthpiece of the masses. She said they are the bridge between law enforcement agencies, government officials and the communities. He stated that the bridge will help promote collaboration and accountability in society,” she added
PWAN is a women-led non-governmental organisation committed to strengthening citizen participation, improving security governance and enhancing protection systems across Nigeria and West Africa.
