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From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
The Niger State governor, Umar Bago and former Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Ndudi Elumelu and other eminent Nigerians are expected to lead debate on State Police at the second annual Distinguished Parliamentarian Lecture and Awards organized by the House Press Corps.
The lecture with the theme “the Imperative for State Police: Securing Communities, Strengthening Federalism” will also have the Founder and Chairman of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Ltd., Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo and Secretary of the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill, Mr. Nnadubem Moghalu in attendance.
The event comes amid moves to alter the 1999 Constitution ( amended) to decentralize policing so that interested states can establish their own police.
The State Police Bill, which has been passed by the two chambers of the National Assembly is currently before state Houses of Assembly. If it scales through at the state Houses of Assembly, it would now be sent for presidential assent.
The chairman of the House of Representatives Press Corps, Mr. Gboyega Onadiran, in a statement noted that Moghalu, who is also the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Planning and Research, will be the guest lecturer.
According to him, the discourse is expected to touch on issues bordering on the implementation of the state police, including funding, recruitment, training, operational independence, accountability, oversight and safeguards against abuse.
Onadiran added that the speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, who will serve as Chief Hostis expected to speak on the position of the 10th House on state police and other security-related legislation before the National Assembly, while the deputy speaker, Benjamin Kalu, is also expected at the event.
