State Police: Panel Proposes 3% FG, 15% States Funding Model

A steering committee on the proposed establishment of state police has recommended a constitutionally backed funding framework to guarantee its effectiveness and sustainability across Nigeria.

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The committee, chaired by Prof. Olu Ogunsakin and inaugurated by the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, stressed that stable financing is critical to the success of state policing.

According to findings, the panel proposed that the Federal Government (FG) should remit three per cent from the Federation Account into a dedicated State Police Fund.

It also recommended that state governments contribute 15 per cent of their annual security sector budgets to the same fund.

The committee noted that such a framework would ensure consistent financing while addressing disparities between wealthier and less-resourced states.

The report stated that disbursement from the fund should be guided by factors such as population, landmass, prevailing security threats, fiscal capacity, and adherence to national policing standards.

The panel argued that a transparent funding mechanism would curb corruption and prevent weaker states from degenerating into what it described as “security deserts.”

As part of reforms to enhance accountability, the committee recommended the compulsory use of body-worn cameras by operational officers.
It added that recorded footage should be securely stored on cloud-based systems and made accessible to oversight institutions, including ombudsman offices and police service commissions.

The panel also proposed the introduction of public dashboards displaying arrest records, complaint data, conviction rates, and community satisfaction indices to improve public trust.

To strengthen synergy between federal and state policing systems, the committee recommended the establishment of a Federal-State Police Coordination Council.

The proposed council, to be chaired by the Inspector-General of Police, would comprise state police heads, lawmakers, civil society groups, the National Human Rights Commission, and media representatives.

It would oversee joint operations, resource allocation, and dispute resolution, while ensuring coordinated national security responses.

Intelligence Sharing, National Portal

On intelligence gathering, the panel proposed the creation of a National Police Intelligence Portal to facilitate real-time information sharing between federal and state police formations.

The portal, it said, should be managed by the Federal Police Service Intelligence Bureau under strict security protocols approved by the Office of the National Security Adviser.

According to the committee, the platform would strengthen responses to crimes such as kidnapping, interstate trafficking, and organised criminal networks.

The committee further recommended the establishment of a National Police Standards Board to regulate operations across both federal and state police services.

The board would conduct annual inspections, publish compliance ratings, and enforce rules on recruitment, training, funding, and human rights adherence.

It warned that states failing to meet required benchmarks could face corrective directives and funding sanctions through the proposed coordination council.

To guard against political interference, the panel proposed criminal sanctions for elected officials who issue unlawful directives to police authorities.

It also recommended the creation of a national register of political interference allegations, to be maintained by the coordination council and made accessible to National Assembly oversight committees.

In addition, the committee called for fast-track judicial processes to handle cases involving politically motivated deployment of police personnel.

Highlighting infrastructure gaps, the panel proposed minimum standards for state police headquarters and divisional stations.

These include separate detention facilities for men, women, and juveniles; specialised interview rooms for gender-based violence cases; and modern digital evidence storage systems.

Other requirements include command-and-control centres, integrated communication networks, crime databases, geographic information systems for crime mapping, and public complaint portals.