Section 21 Nigeria Police Act

Section 21 of the Nigeria Police Act 2020 is about Appointment of supernumerary police officers to protect property. It is under Part V (General Administration) of the Act. It provides as follows:

(1) Any private organisation or government department who desires to avail itself of the services of supernumerary police for the protection of property owned or controlled by it may make application to the Inspector-General of Police-
(a) stating the nature and situation of the property in question; and
(b) giving such other particulars as the Inspector-General of Police may require.

(2) On an application under subsection (1), the Inspector-General of Police may, with the approval of the Police Service Commission, direct the appropriate authority to appoint, as supernumerary police officers in the Police Force, such number of persons as the Inspector-General of Police thinks appropriate for the protection of the pr9perty to which the application relates.

(3) Every supernumerary police officer appointed under this section and sections 22 and 23-
(a) is appointed in respect of the area of the Police Zonal, State, Area or Divisional Commands in which the personnel and property which he is to protect are located ;

(b) is employed exclusively on duties connected with the protection, administration and maintenance of that property or premises;
(c) shall, in the police area in respect of which he is appointed and in any police area adjacent thereto, have the powers, privileges and immunities of a police officer ; and
(d) shall be–
(i) a member of the Police Force for all purposes, and
(ii) subject to the provisions of this Act, pat1icularly the provisions relating to discipline.

(4) Where any supernumerary police officer is appointed, the private or government department availing itself of the services of that officer shall pay-
(a) all entitlements, including salary and allowances to the officer monthly;
(b) on the enlistment of the officer, the full cost of the officer’s uniform and accoutrements, including ceremonial dresses, which-
(i) is the same as the police general duty, and
(ii) shall be paid to the Police in a designated account approved by the Inspector-General of Police.

(5) Where the private or government department availing itself of the services of any supernumerary police officer desires the services of that officer to be discontinued, the private or government department shall give at least two months’ notice in writing to that effect to the Inspector-General of Police who shall give approval to such request for implementation, and all benefits of the officer shall be paid within one month of his release.

(6) All uniforms shall be supplied by the Police Force Quarter Master.

(7) The supernumerary police shall be a unit of the Police Force.