Ogun ex-lawmaker hails N’Assembly’s passage of state police bill

A former member of the House of Representatives and former Acting Chairman of the Federal Character Commission, Kayode Oladele, has described the passage of the Constitution Alteration Bill on State Police by the National Assembly as a timely and far-reaching constitutional response to Nigeria’s worsening security challenges.

Oladele, a Nigerian-American legal practitioner, said the proposed legislation offers a historic opportunity to strengthen Nigeria’s internal security architecture and reinforce the constitutional principles of federalism.

In a statement made available to our correspondent on Monday, the former lawmaker noted that although the bill was yet to complete the constitutional amendment process by securing the approval of at least two-thirds of the state Houses of Assembly and presidential assent, its passage by both the Senate and the House of Representatives represented a major milestone in Nigeria’s constitutional development.

According to him, the country’s growing security challenges have exposed the limitations of a highly centralised policing system and underscored the need for institutional reforms capable of bringing law enforcement closer to the people.

“There can be no meaningful development without security. Section 14(2)(b) of the Constitution clearly provides that the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.

“The increasing incidence of terrorism, kidnapping, armed banditry, communal conflicts, farmer-herder clashes and other violent crimes has demonstrated that the existing policing structure requires urgent constitutional review,” he said.

Oladele commended officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force for their commitment and sacrifices in the face of enormous operational challenges, adding that the demand for state police should not be interpreted as a criticism of the institution but as a recognition of the need to modernise Nigeria’s security framework.

He argued that no single centrally controlled police force could effectively police a country as large and diverse as Nigeria, stressing that the proposed state police arrangement was consistent with the principles of federalism.

Oladele added, “The proposal should be viewed as a constitutional response to contemporary security realities rather than a political concession. Federalism requires the meaningful devolution of governmental responsibilities in a manner that promotes efficiency, accountability and responsiveness.”

The former lawmaker explained that the Constitution Alteration Bill envisages a dual policing structure comprising a Federal Police Service and state police services, noting that the legislation does not compel every state to establish its own police organisation.

According to him, each state would be required to enact its own enabling law before establishing a state police service while complying with nationally prescribed standards on recruitment, training, discipline, operations and accountability.

Oladele acknowledged concerns over the possible abuse of state police by state governments but maintained that such fears should not derail a reform that has become necessary.

He noted that the bill contains safeguards designed to prevent abuse, including legislative oversight, nationally prescribed policing standards and provisions permitting federal intervention in clearly defined exceptional circumstances.

“No constitutional arrangement is entirely immune from abuse. What is required is the strengthening of democratic institutions, judicial independence, legislative oversight and strict adherence to the rule of law,” he added.

The former federal lawmaker also urged states to carefully assess their financial capacity before establishing police services, warning that effective policing requires sustained investment in personnel, training, equipment, intelligence gathering and technology.

He called on members of the state Houses of Assembly to consider the constitutional amendment objectively when it is transmitted to them for ratification.

According to him, the overriding consideration should be the security of Nigerians and the long-term stability of the country’s democratic institutions rather than partisan political interests.

Oladele, however, observed that state police alone would not eliminate insecurity, saying judicial reforms, improved intelligence gathering, enhanced welfare for security personnel and stronger inter-agency collaboration remained critical to addressing the country’s security challenges.

He expressed optimism that if properly implemented, the constitutional amendment would produce a policing system that is more responsive to local realities, more accountable to the people and better equipped to protect lives and property across the federation.