The Speakers of the 36 Houses of Assembly on Thursday expressed their support for the establishment of State police.
This was contained in a communique issued after their meeting in Abuja under the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria.
Led by Conference Chairman, Oyo State Speaker Adebo Ogundoyin, they believed that State police would enhance efforts against insecurity.
They urged the National Assembly to prioritize the state police proposal during the constitution amendment debate.
The speakers also highlighted concerns about governors not fully implementing the constitutional provision of financial autonomy for Houses of Assembly.
Also, they called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to alleviate the challenges caused by the removal of fuel subsidy and other government policies aimed at revitalizing the economy.
They pledged to approve the Bill on Creation of State Police if included in the proposed constitution review, requiring endorsement by at least 24 out of the 36 Houses of Assembly.
While many Nigerians support state police as a means to combat rising crime, the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, opposed the idea, citing concerns about potential misuse by governors and its impact on human rights and national security.
Egbetokun disclosed this at the national dialogue on state policing organised on April 22 by the House of Representatives in Abuja, themed, ‘Pathways to peace: Reimagining policing in Nigeria’.
Egbetokun was represented at the event by Assistant Inspector-General of Police Ben Okolo. Okolo, while initially expressing opposition to state police as the opinion of police leadership, later clarified that his statements were personal views.
During the event, Vice President Kashim Shettima reiterated the commitment of the Bola Tinubu Administration to create an enabling environment for the establishment of state police in Nigeria.
The Inspector-General’s stance received criticism from various Nigerians, including former police chief Sunday Ehindero, who believed that state police is a necessary step forward.
The speakers’ communique read, “The Conference strongly advocates for state policing to check the negative trend of insecurity in our country.
“To achieve this, the Conference appeals to the National Assembly, Presidency and other relevant stakeholders to leverage the ongoing constitution review exercise.”
“The Conference of Speakers acknowledged the “courage of the President on his economic policies taken so far such as the removal of Petroleum product subsidy and the floating of the exchange rate.
“The unintended consequences of these policies are too harsh on the populace. We therefore, urge the Federal Government and State Governments to initiate sustainable policies with equal measure of courage to ameliorate the sufferings of the people.
“The Conference observed that in spite of the constitutional provisions that grant Financial Autonomy to the State Legislature, the implementation has been observed in breach.
“We therefore, call on all the relevant stakeholders to comply with all the provisions in the Constitution and not by breach.”
