State Police: Group urges Tinubu to withhold assent

The Movement for Improved Welfare for Nigeria Police Force (MIWNPF) has called on President Bola Tinubu to withhold assent to the State Police Bill, alleging that the legislation was processed without adequate public participation.

The group also warned that Nigeria was not yet ready for state police.

It cited the risk of political interference, fragmentation of command, and inadequate funding of the existing police force.

MIWNPF National Coordinator, Toyin Raheem Prince, made the call in a statement issued on Tuesday, following reports that the National Assembly was preparing to transmit the bill to the President.

The organisation expressed concern that civil society groups involved in police reform and citizens’ security were allegedly excluded from deliberations on the bill.

It said: “We are alarmed that this Bill was processed with no public debate, no stakeholder engagement, and no input from the very organizations that have spent years working on police reform and citizens security in Nigeria.”

According to MIWNPF, organisations including the Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre, Network of Police Reform in Nigeria, CLEEN Foundation, Civil Liberties Organisation, Campaign for Constitutionalism and Human Rights and Centre for Citizens with Disabilities were not invited by the National Assembly.

Others listed were the Centre for People’s Defence, Campaign for Democracy and Justice, United Action for Democracy, Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, Coalition Against Corruption and Bad Governance, Democratic Socialist Movement and Nigeria Democratic Security Coalition.

“No public hearing was called.

“How can a law that will affect the security architecture of over 200 million Nigerians be passed in this manner?” the group queried.

Explaining its opposition, MIWNPF warned that state police could be exploited by governors for political purposes.

It stated: “In our current political climate, state police will become a tool in the hands of sitting governors to intimidate opponents, rig elections, and settle political scores.

“We have already seen the misuse of existing state-backed security outfits.”

The organisation also raised concerns over what it described as possible fragmentation of command, pointing to existing security structures such as Amotekun, Hisbah, Ebubeagu, community policing and vigilante groups.

It added: “Creating another layer without reforming these will breed confusion, rivalry, and abuse.”

MIWNPF also questioned how state police would operate alongside Commissioners of Police currently heading the Nigeria Police Force in individual states.

“Today, every state has a Commissioner of Police as the head of federal police in the state.

“If we now create ‘State Police’ with a different head by another name, what changes?

“The structure remains the same, but accountability becomes weaker.

“Is that true federalism?” it asked.

The group argued that countries where state policing operates successfully have strong institutions, independent judiciaries, local government autonomy and substantial funding.

It said: “Countries that run state police successfully like the United States of America and Germany have strong institutions, independent judiciary, local government autonomy, and massive funding.

“Countries like Ghana, Rwanda, and Kenya run a largely centralized police and have recorded progress in reform. Centralization is not the problem. Underfunding, poor welfare, and lack of accountability are.”

MIWNPF consequently called for comprehensive reform of the Nigeria Police Force before any restructuring.

It demanded proper funding, modern equipment, patrol vehicles, forensic laboratories, body cameras and improved information and communication technology.

𝕤𝕖𝕖 𝕞𝕠𝕣𝕖/𝕨𝕒𝕥𝕔𝕙 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕧𝕚𝕕𝕖𝕠 𝕙𝕖𝕣𝕖