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By Lawrence Agbo
Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin has assured Nigerians that the proposed state police system will not give governors unchecked authority, saying the constitutional amendment empowers the President to step in whenever the outfit is misused.
Speaking during Hannu Da Yawa, a live Hausa programme on Radio Nigeria Kaduna on Saturday, Barau said the proposed framework contains legal safeguards to prevent state police from becoming instruments of political intimidation or ethnic persecution.
According to the lawmaker, the President would have the constitutional backing to direct the Nigeria Police Force to assume control if a state police service is deployed in a manner that endangers lives, violates citizens’ rights or threatens public safety.
“If state police is used for intimidation or actions that threaten lives and property, the President has the constitutional authority to intervene and direct the federal police to take over,” he said.
Barau, who heads the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, described President Bola Tinubu’s drive for state police as a major step towards addressing Nigeria’s worsening security situation.
He said the proposal was the outcome of months of consultations involving the Presidency, the National Assembly, the Inspector-General of Police, retired security officers, governors, security experts, civil society organisations and members of the public.
The Deputy Senate President noted that public hearings were also conducted across the country’s six geopolitical zones and the Federal Capital Territory to gather public input before the bill advanced.
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He said the administration recognised widespread public support for state police but also acknowledged concerns that governors could exploit the system for political purposes, prompting the inclusion of constitutional checks and balances.
Barau explained that the proposed arrangement establishes a dual policing structure, allowing state police and the Nigeria Police Force to operate side by side with clearly defined responsibilities.
He said officers recruited by state police would come from their local communities, making them more familiar with the terrain and better positioned to combat crimes such as kidnapping, banditry and other security threats.
While state police would focus on maintaining internal security and public order, he said the Nigeria Police Force would continue to handle national security matters, including terrorism, cybercrime and other federal offences.
He added that the appointment of state police commandants would follow a transparent process backed by legal protections to insulate them from undue political influence.
Barau also acknowledged concerns about funding and operational capacity, saying the necessary financial and administrative structures would be developed as the constitutional amendment process progresses.
He expressed confidence that state Houses of Assembly would support the initiative, insisting that the proposed reforms strike a balance between decentralising policing and preserving federal oversight.
“We must re-engineer our security architecture to better protect lives and property while guarding against abuse. This is a balanced, consultative initiative built on safeguards and aimed at bringing policing closer to the people,” he said.
