Follow Us on Google
From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
Amidst rising insecurity across the country, there are indications that the House of Representatives may consider the creation of state police as part of its efforts to address the security challenges in the country.
Daily Sun gathered that the creation of state police is one of the major issues that will feature in the alteration of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) by the 10th House, which is scheduled to commence later in the month.
Police is listed in the exclusive legislative list, under the second schedule of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). However, there have been relentless agitations by stakeholders for the creation of state police, so that each state of the federation can have its own police force.
The agitations for the decentralisation of the police has heightened with the recent upsurge in kidnapping for ransom, banditry, and terrorism in different parts of the country, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
The 10th House, apparently in response to the agitations, listed reform of the police force, in its legislative agenda. The Green chamber, in the document, had noted that it wouls “review the current system of policing in Nigeria to strengthen the framework for ‘community policing’ to decentralise the police structure and allow zonal commands to take prompt action on police issues.”
Furthermore, the parliament noted that it would open up national discourse on the merits of state police to aggregate citizens’ views and perspectives.
The chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Akin Rotimi Jnr, confirmed to Daily Sun that the issues relating to the security architecture of the country, including demands for state police, would be a major issue in the constitution review exercise, in the Green chamber. He said this is especially, as police reforms is a critical aspects of the legislative agenda of the 10th House.
Rotimi, who stated that though the House believes that the present security architecture in the country is not working, it cannot preempt the outcome of the Constitution review exercise, especially as it concerns state police
However, he stated that the House is determined to lead the initiative, as well as take necessary steps to reform the country’s security architecture. Nevertheless, the lawmaker said it is beyond the parliament to say what the eventual outcome will be.
According to him, “All of this issue (state police and other security matters) are going to occupy the front burner. As you know, it is in line with our legislative agenda. But, one thing that you will find interesting is that we are expediting the constitution review process to ensure that there is enough time within the life cycle of this assembly.
“Overall, you will see from the speaker’s statement on resumption of the assembly that security is occupying the front burner for us, and we are ready. I can’t pre-empt what the outcome will be. But, it is obvious to us that the current structure; the current architecture is not working, and needs to be totally overhauled.
“Let’s say that in line with the statement made by Mr Speaker, the current architecture is not working. And the tenth assembly is ready to lead the bold and necessary steps to overhaul our security architecture.”
