Four states have approved state police bill – Tinubu’s aide

Nnadubem Moghalu, senior special assistant to President Bola
Tinubu on planning and research, says four states have approved the
constitutional amendment bill seeking to establish state police.

 

The secretary of the presidential working group on the
national policing bill spoke on Tuesday in Abuja at the parliamentary lecture
organised by the house of representatives press corps.

He said so far, Edo, Rivers, Osun, and Oyo had approved the
bill, which must be endorsed by at least 24 state houses of assembly before the
constitutional alteration can take effect.

“The required threshold is twenty-four states. The
constitutional process continues until that threshold is met. The distinction
between that constitutional amendment and the national policing bill we are now
working on is important. The amendment would create a constitutional basis for
the dual policing model,” he said.

“The national policing bill is intended to provide the
operational framework through which that constitutional model can work. State
legislation and the practical work of building capable institutions must follow
within the resulting legal framework.”

He also cautioned against governors using state police to
target political opponents or local majorities deploying security forces
against minorities, saying the law must clearly define authority and provide
mechanisms to punish abuse.

Henry Nwawuba, executive secretary of the National Assembly
Library Trust Fund, said lawmakers must move beyond expressions of sympathy
over insecurity and embrace legislative solutions.

“We can’t keep saying our thoughts and prayers are with the
victims of insecurity and we call ourselves legislators,” he said.

Ndudi Elumelu, former minority leader of the house of
representatives, backed the reform but underscored the need for safeguards to
ensure professionalism, accountability, human rights protection, adequate
training and freedom from political interference.

Akin Rotimi, spokesperson of the house of representatives
who represented Tajudeen Abbas, the speaker, urged the media and parliament to
subject the proposal to rigorous scrutiny based on its principles, provisions
and consequences rather than the identity of its sponsors or supporters.

Grace Ike, chairperson of the Nigeria Union of Journalists
(NUJ) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), said policing closer to
communities could produce more tailored responses to local security challenges,
provided there are effective oversight, funding and accountability mechanisms.

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