Calls for state police in Nigeria have continued to gain momentum as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu marks his first year in office. Currently, the Nigerian Police Force is under the exclusive control of the Federal Government, which means the 36 states of the federation rely on the federal police for security within their jurisdictions. Proponents argue that state police would bring law enforcement closer to the communities they serve, enhance the effectiveness of policing, and allow for more localised control over security matters. In this piece, OLADIPUPO AWOJOBI chronicles the calls by various stakeholders for the nation to embrace state police.
36 Assembly Speakers back state police
The Speakers of the Houses of Assembly across 36 states in the country, on May 16, 2024 backed the ongoing constitution review exercise for the creation of state police. The Speakers, under the aegis of the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria, took the stand in a communique issued at the end of their meeting in Abuja. The communique was signed by Chairman of the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria, Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin, who is the Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly. A bill for state police is currently being considered at the National Assembly.
When transmitted to the state Assemblies, the Speakers pledged their readiness to support the bill for the state police creation. The communique read in part, “The conference strongly advocates state policing to check the negative trend of insecurity in our country. “To achieve this, the conference appeals to the National Assembly, Presidency and other relevant stakeholders to leverage on the ongoing constitution review exercise.”
Tinubu, Jonathan, Abdulsalami, back state police as IGP differs
On his part, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun has a different view about state police, which is supported by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, former president Goodluck Jonathan and former head of state, Abdulsalami Abubakar. At a national dialogue on state police, which held in Abuja recently, the IGP faulted calls for its creation, differing from other personalities at the event. Tagged ‘Pathways to Peace: Reimagining Policing in Nigeria,’ IGP Egbetokun believed that the country is not yet “mature” for state police despite Nigeria’s myriad of security challenges.
‘Nigeria is Not Yet Mature’
“On the issue of state police, it is the submission of the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) that Nigeria is not yet mature and ready for the establishment of state-controlled police,” the IGP, represented by AIG Ben Okolo, said at the event organised by the Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas. The IGP argued among other factors, that “there is the potential for abuse of power by the state political leadership.
“State governors could use the police forces under their control for political or personal gain and undermine human rights and security. “There would also be a conflict of jurisdiction,” he said.
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The IGP suggested other things to make the police better in securing the country. “First, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Federal Road Safety to form a department under the Nigerian police,” he said
Tinubu committed to police reforms
But President Tinubu, represented by his deputy, Kashim Shettima, said his administration is committed to reforming the country’s policing system for better security of the nation. “The commitment of the adminis- tration of President Tinubu to reform the police force and enhance security at both the national and state levels is unwavering,” Shettima said.
“We view the outcomes of today’s deliberations as crucial inputs that will guide the government’s actions towards reforming the institution of the police and achieving a safer and more secure Nigeria.”
‘Not-Negotiable’
A former President Goodluck Jonathan also believes that despite the chal- lenges that come with it, state police has become “non-negotiable”. “The issue of the need for states to have their own police is not negotiable. There is no way we can continue this kidnapping that is going on in this country,” he said. According to him, the spite of kidnapping and other crimes make state police a must-have in present-day Nigeria.
“Commercial kidnapping started around 2006, I don’t want to go into that history. But it started in the Niger Delta. Now it is all over the country,” the former president argued. “The only thing that can help us if we cannot stop it completely at least we reduce it to the barest minimum is for states to have their police.”
Duty for royal fathers
While backing reforms in the policing system, a former Head of State Abdulsalami Abubakar brought a new dimension into the concept. He wants traditional rulers to be part of the state police structure and believes their knowledge of the local environment will be handy in securing Nigeria. “As a child growing up in the rural community, we see the role of the village heads where if a stranger enters a village the village head knows about that and through their communication the Emir is aware,” he said.
Neutral NASS
The organiser of the event and the Speaker of the House of Representatives Abbas Tajudeen said while the lawmak- ers do not have a position on the mat- ter, the National Assembly will facilitate conversations about state police. “The House of Representatives is aware of the divisive and polarising ar- guments surrounding the issue under review,” the speaker said. “Let me state categorically that the House and indeed the National Assem- bly do not have a fixed position. Our role is to facilitate a dialogue and gen- erate consensus.”
16 states submit reports on state police to NEC
However, 16 of Nigeria’s 36 states have submitted reports on the establishment of state police. The Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Communication, Stanley Nkwocha, in a state ment, said that discussions around the state police were held at a meeting of the National Economic Council. Nkwocha, in the statement said, “Secretary to NEC (Mr Nebeolisa Anako) made a presentation on submissions by states on the state policing initiative. “Reports have been received by 16 states on the establishment of state police “20 states are yet to send in report. All states across the country expressed their support for the establishment of state police.” However, no details were given about the specific states.
State Police bill scales second reading at House of Reps
A bill for the establishment of state police passed the second reading in the House of Representatives on February 20, 2024 after a lengthy debate. The bill, sponsored by the Depu- ty Speaker, Ben Kalu, and 14 others, aims to amend the 1999 Constitution by removing Police from the Exclusive Legislative List and adding it to the concurrent list. It seeks to transfer “Police” from the “Exclusive Legislative List” to the “Concurrent Legislative List,” effectively empowering states to have state-controlled policing.
It proposes 16 alterations to the constitution and introduces a comprehensive framework to ensure cohesion, accountability, and uniform standards between the federal police and state police. The bill also seeks to establish State Police Service Commissions as distinct from the Federal Police Service Commission with clearly defined roles and jurisdictions. Additionally, it seeks to allow the federal government to provide grants and aid to states to support the estab- lishment of a police force for each state. Leading the debate on the bill on behalf of the co-sponsors, Muktar Shagaya (APC, Kwara), said the state police bill is not only a matter of federalism but that the exigency of time calls for its creation.
“This bill emerges as a necessary response to several calls for a decentralised and community-oriented approach to law enforcement. It seeks to navigate the complex landscape of security challenges by empowering our states with the means to address issues unique to their localities. “This proposed alteration represents not just a legal adjustment to our grund- norm but a visionary leap towards a safer, more secure, and harmonious Britain,” he said. Hon. Shagaya urged members of the House to support the bill regardless of party affiliations. Following a lengthy debate that lasted about one hour, Mr Kalu, who presided over the plenary, put the bill to a voice vote and a majority of the lawmakers voted in support of the bill to be passed for second reading. He subsequently referred the bill to the Constitution Review Committee for further legislative action.
Some politicians speak to Saturday Telegraph
Hon. Oluyinka Ogundimu, who represented Agege Constituency 2 in the Lagos State House of Assembly from 2011 to 2023, said in an interview with Saturday Telegraph that he didn’t see anything wrong in state police.
“If the states can have their own state high courts, governors and legislative arms, then what is wrong with them having their own police? Who implements or enforces the law made by the various states houses of assem- bly? That one should also be looked at.
Those countries that we copy have local governments police. We should practice what they do to the end,” he said. Ogundimu stressed that everything cannot go with force, saying that there are series of engagements that should be done on the issue. Also speaking, Hon. Musibau Kolawole Taiwo, who represented Ajeromi/Ifelodun in the House of Representatives from 2019 to 2023, stated that in 1999, when he was a legislator, and when President Bola Tinubu was the governor of Lagos State, they requested for state police then. Kolawole said that he is not sur- prised that Tinubu said that the states could come up with state police. “Lagos State is seriously planning how to start state police. We should not mind what federal police are saying that Nigeria is not ripe for state police. This is a time that the world is even moving from quality control to quality assurance. You must do it well the first time,” he said.
Also speaking, Hon. Victor Akande, who represented Ojo Constituency 1 in the Lagos State House of Assembly from 2015 to 2023, stated that state police is good whereby the security of the states would be the responsibility of the state governments and they would be serious with it. Akande however, said that when it comes to politics, it is bad because it can be used to witch-hunt perceived political enemies. “You can see what is happening in the case of former governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State. Assuming there is state police, he would be in that state and the state government would not allow the police to arrest him, and we would not be able to know if he actually did what they said he did.
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