By Daniel Idonor
ABUJA—Disturbed by claims and counter claims of conflicting functions by the Nigeria Police Force, NPF, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, the Federal Government Monday set up a committee to probe these claims.

Also yesterday, the Government said it has released N39.5 billion of the N71 billion appropriated by the National Assembly for the on-going reform of the Police; even as government budgeted N79 billion for the exercise.

The committee which will investigate the claims of overlapping functions by the NPF and her sister organisation, NSCDC, is to report to government through the Presidential Police Reform Committee, under the direct supervision of Vice President, Namadi Sambo.

The Committee is to be chaired by the National Security Adviser, NSA, Lt Gen. Patrick Owoye Azazi with the Ministers of Police Affairs, Interior and Justice as members, while other members include the Inspector General of Police and the Commandant-General of the NSCDC.

Sambo who announced the constitution of the probe panel at a meeting of the Interim Implementation Committee on the Reform of the Nigeria Police Force, said the move followed a request by the Nigeria Police Force, for government to address the conflicting duties, especially in the area of internal security.

The Vice President stated that the NSCDC, as a security organisation is playing an important role especially in the areas of checking pipeline vandalisation and protection of government installations nationwide.

He therefore tasked the Committee to give both parties to the looming conflict equal and fair hearing with a view to recommending to government the way forward.

The Vice President, while commending the Ministry of Police Affairs and the Police on their dedication at reforming the Force, urged them to strengthen the internal monitoring mechanism in the Police force for the reforms to take root.

He also tasked them to fast track the devolution of powers among the various commands to ensure effective policing of the country.

Vice President Sambo also charged them to ensure the smooth conduct of the 2011 Elections as the Federal Government is putting all necessary mechanism to strengthen the Force to meet the challenges of democratic policing, which is expected to provide adequate policing during and after the polls.

He said that based on the importance of the Bills on the Police Reform Fund and the Police University, Wudil, the government would pursue their early passage.

Sambo expressed and extend the sympathy of the Federal Government to the governor of Cross River State, Senator Liyel Imoke, over the ethnic clash that occurred early yesterday at some parts of the State.

Earlier, the Minister of Police Affairs, Adamu Maina Waziri, disclosed that government had budgeted N79 billion for the police reforms, but the National Assembly appropriated N71 billion and from these the Ministry of Finance had released N39.5 billion.

He noted that the amount was expended in the provision of state of the art surveillance and tracking machines, operational vehicle, gears and helicopters. Other areas were capacity building of officers and men, rehabilitation of Police Colleges and barracks.

Mr. Waziri further said that the Federal Government had procured 120,000 handheld digital radio for the Police in preparation for the 2011 elections, and made case for the early passage of the two Bills.

Also speaking, the Acting Inspector General of Police, Hafiz Ringim, lamented that some sections of the  2007 Act of the NSCDC, goes  contrary to Section 214 (1) of the 1999 Constitution, which provides for the setting up of the Police Force.

He therefore urged for the streamlining of functions of the Police and that of the Corps to ensure clarity of roles and avoidance of conflicts between the two security organisations.

The police boss assured that the Police is determined to reform itself to meet the challenges of providing adequate security to Nigerians.

Others present at the occasion, were the Deputy Governor of Borno State, Adamu Dibal, Minister of Finance, Dr. Olusegun Aganga, Minister of Justice and the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN) and other government officials.