While Section 14.(2)(b) of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution emphatically declares that “the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary objective of government,” this newspaper laments the cavalier and reactive approach of elected public office holders. Is. All-important provision.
It is regrettable that successive governments have refused to heed the call for setting up state police. In several editorials spanning two decades, the medium stressed the need for police decentralization, not only to curb rising insecurity but also as a key feature of federalism. Of course, it goes without saying that law enforcement officers will be exceptionally effective in combating crime when they work among their own people and in their own locality or local environment. How can an Inspector General of Police of Abuja, even if he is superhuman, determine the security architecture for every village and hamlet in a vast area with over 250 ethnic nationalities, different backgrounds, languages and cultures?
The noise for the state police has reached deafening decibels in recent years. It equally generated considerable controversy. Despite worsening insecurity, every Nigerian president opposed it for reasons largely unclear, if not entirely the desire to maintain a monopoly of an instrument of force at the federal level.
After several constitutional amendments, Section 214 of the 1999 Constitution remains unchanged, frustrating this newspaper, civil society organizations and other concerned non-state actors. Section 214 provides as follows:
“214. (1) There shall be a police force for Nigeria, to be known as the Nigeria Police Force, and subject to the provisions of this section, no other police force shall be established for the Federation or any part thereof.
Now the chickens have come to roost in the house. The increased insecurity caused by the actions and inactions of the Buhari administration has now assumed a monstrous form and has brought the entire country to the brink of suffocation. We recall that at least three state governors during previous administrations, frustrated by the lack of capacity of the Nigerian state to secure lives and property, called on its citizens to defend themselves against brutal, marauding insurgents, gun-toting herdsmen, kidnappers, Had called for. Terrorists and bandits – a euphemism for a call to arms!
Despite its delay and the huge socio-economic losses caused by its undue delay, we welcome the Bill of an Act to alter the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for the establishment of the State Police and related matters. ,
The bill, introduced in the House of Representatives on November 7, 2023 and co-sponsored by legislators spanning six geopolitical zones of the country, recently passed the second reading.
Similarly, we commend the decision of President Bola Tinubu and state governors to bow to the agitation for state police as part of measures to stem the rising tide of insecurity across the country.
Clause 12 of the House of Representatives Bill replaces section 214 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) in its entirety with substantive provisions:
“214. (I) The following bodies are established: (a) the Federal Police; and (b) State Police. (2) The National Assembly shall by an Act determine the structure, organisation, administration and powers of the Federal Police and provide framework and guidelines for the establishment of State Police. (3) The Federal Police – (a) shall, to the extent provided under this Constitution or by an Act of the National Assembly, be responsible for the maintenance of public safety, the preservation of public order and the protection of persons and property throughout the Federation; and (b) be responsible for the maintenance of public safety, the preservation of public order and the security of persons and property within a State to the extent that the State has power to make laws under this Constitution. (4) Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, the Federal Police shall not interfere with the conduct by any State Police of the internal security affairs of a State, except – (a) where it is shown that Law and order within a State has completely collapsed and the State Police is unable to stop the threat; (b) where the Governor of a State requests the intervention of the Federal Police to prevent or control a breakdown of law and order in the State; and (c) where a State Police is unable to function by reason of administrative, financial or other problems which render it inactive at a certain time: Provided that any intervention under this sub-section shall be made only with the approval by a two-thirds majority of the Senate. Will be done after. ,
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