The Sokoto State House of Assembly has unanimously adopted a proposed constitutional amendment to provide a legal framework for the establishment of state police services in Nigeria, amid growing calls for decentralised policing to address security challenges across the country.
The adoption followed a motion moved by Mustapha Abdullahi (APC-Sokoto South II), Deputy Majority Leader of the House, during plenary on Tuesday in Sokoto.
Presenting the bill, Abdullahi said the proposed Sixth Alteration to the 1999 Constitution, as amended, sought to establish state police services while retaining the Nigeria Police Force as the federal policing institution.
He said the bill had been considered by the Senate on June 24 and the House of Representatives on July 23 before it was transmitted to the Sokoto Assembly on Sept. 22.
According to him, the proposed amendment seeks to clearly define the responsibilities of federal and state police services to improve law enforcement and strengthen responses to security threats.
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Under the proposed framework, the federal police would handle interstate and international crimes, terrorism, cybercrime, border security, policing of the Federal Capital Territory and protection of federal assets.
Enforcing Laws
State police, on the other hand, would be responsible for maintaining public order and safety, protecting lives and property, enforcing laws and investigating local crimes.
“Therefore, the Federal Police and State Police will function side by side in every state,” Abdullahi said.
He said that the federal police could intervene in state policing operations at the request of a governor or where a breakdown of law and order exceeded the capacity of the state police to contain.
The lawmaker said the head of a state police service would be known as the State Commander of Police, appointed by the governor on the recommendation of the National Police Council and subject to confirmation by the State House of Assembly.
He said the proposed legislation also provided for a State Police Service Commission to oversee the appointment, promotion and discipline of state police personnel, except the State Commander.
Financial Autonomy
On funding, Abdullahi said the commission would receive funds directly from the state’s Consolidated Revenue Fund to support its financial autonomy.
He added that the Nigeria Police Force would continue operating in each state until the respective state police service commenced operations.
Abdullahi cited Section 9(2) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, which requires a constitutional amendment to be approved by resolutions of the Houses of Assembly of not less than two-thirds of all the states.
Contributing to the debate, several lawmakers supported the proposal, describing state policing as a measure that could help states respond more effectively to their security challenges.
The Speaker, Alhaji Tukur Bala, who presided over the plenary, subsequently put the motion to a voice vote, and the lawmakers unanimously adopted it.
