GOVERNORS CALL FOR CONSTITUTIONAL BACKING TO ESTABLISH STATE POLICE
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By:Tajudeen Aminat
Nigeria’s 36 state governors have renewed their call for greater constitutional authority over security matters, advocating stronger roles in the management and coordination of security operations within their states.
The position emerged following a high-level meeting focused on the proposed establishment of state police, with details outlined in a communiqué issued after the deliberations.
The meeting, held last week, brought together state Attorneys-General, legal experts, and senior security officials to align proposals for a constitutional and institutional framework that would support decentralized policing nationwide.
A key proposal from the gathering was the need for enhanced constitutional recognition of governors’ responsibilities in coordinating security activities at the state level.
Participants also endorsed a policing model based on cooperative federalism, under which federal and state police institutions would operate within clearly defined constitutional and statutory mandates.
Under the proposed arrangement, the Federal Police Service would retain exclusive jurisdiction over crimes deemed national in scope, while State Police Services would be empowered to prevent, investigate, and assist in prosecuting offences within their constitutionally assigned jurisdictions, particularly those arising from state laws.
The framework further proposes the transfer or restructuring of selected policing assets, commands, and facilities to support the effective operation of state police formations.
Another recommendation was the inclusion of a rotating representative of State Attorneys-General on the National Police Council to strengthen state participation in national policing oversight and policy development.
Stakeholders also emphasized the importance of establishing clear constitutional provisions to guarantee sustainable funding for state police structures, warning that inadequate financial support could hinder their effectiveness and operational capacity.
According to participants, predictable and reliable funding mechanisms are essential to ensuring that state police services can function efficiently and fulfill their responsibilities.
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