By Tajudeen Babamale, Bashir Dawodu and Latifat Raji

Following public outcry over the inability of the central police force to effectively manage Nigeria’s security challenges, the Senate Leader, Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, CON, has advocated the creation of a state police system.

Senator Bamidele made the call last Monday (July 1,2024) while speaking at a public lecture titled “Constitutional Amendment and the Political Dynamics of State Policing in Nigeria”, organised by the Department of Political Science, University of Ilorin, in collaboration with the Institute for Legislative Studies, University of Ilorin. 

The Senate Leader opined that only a decentralised police force, as practiced in most developed countries, can rescue Nigeria from its current security challenges. He added that the adoption of state police would allow the central police to focus on recruiting and training highly professional officers who could be deployed as needed.

He, however, advocated for a constitutional amendment to accommodate a state policing system with stringent checks and balances. He believes this will alleviate concerns about potential abuse of power by state governors, who might use state police forces to suppress political opposition or violate human rights.

Senator Bamidele argued that the centralised police system in which operational control is vested in the IGP, who in turn is answerable to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, does not only contradict the practice of federalism, but also greatly undermines the authority of State Governors to effectively handle their security affairs, and therefore should be decentralised.

The lawyer and human rights activist said that one of the primary concerns is the potential for abuse by governors, but he believes that robust mechanisms for oversight and accountability should be put in place to ensure that the State Police Force operates within the bounds of the law and respects citizens’ rights. He noted that federal oversight, independent review, and clear legislative frameworks are essential to prevent the misuse of power. He also called for the establishment of an independent police service commission to guarantee police autonomy in appointments, discipline, promotion, and accountability, so that there would be no interference by political office holders in the country.

The Senate Leader noted that states must be involved financially in state policing by allocating adequate resources for training, equipment, and remuneration of their police personnel. He added that the federal government can also assist them in these areas, so that no state is left behind due to financial constraints.

On his part, the Chairman of the occasion, Deputy Senate President of the National Assembly, Senator Barau Jibrin, CON, praised the University of Ilorin for producing outstanding graduates.

The Deputy Senate President, who spoke through Senator Lola Ashiru, representing the Kwara South Senatorial District in the National Assembly, commended the University for its exceptional engineering graduates.

While stating that the University of Ilorin, renowned for being the most sought-after university, excels in instilling both learning and character in its students, he expressed hope that the newly commissioned Institute for Legislative Studies at the institution would uphold high standards, ensuring that its graduates are prepared to compete in the contemporary world.

Senator Jibrin also encouraged greater collaboration between Nigerian universities and the National Assembly, noting that university education would be rendered ineffective without such collaboration, as it is essential for ensuring the security of citizens.

In his goodwill message, Senator Sadiq Umar, who represents Kwara North, congratulated the Department of Political Science for successfully bringing the National Assembly to the University for knowledge acquisition. He noted that security challenges are local issues that should be addressed locally through the creation of state police.

While acknowledging that state policing has both advantages and disadvantages, he believed the benefits outweigh the drawbacks and urged citizens to vote wisely to prevent abuse of power.

On his part, the Senator who represents Kwara Central and Turaki of Ilorin, Mallam Saliu Mustapha, stated that forums like the public lecture organised by the Department of Political Science, in collaboration with the Institute for Legislative Studies, are crucial to help Nigerians make informed decisions.

Earlier, the Head of the Department of Political Science, University of Ilorin, Dr. Adebola Bakare, said bringing the National Assembly to the University is significant in bridging the gap between policymakers and academia in order to address the fragile issue of state policing in Nigeria.

He advised attendees to learn from the programme, which aimed to provide insight into the pros and cons of state policing. He said that while some advocate for the establishment of state police to adequately cover the country’s nooks and crannies, others fear that state police might be misused by tyrannical leaders and governors .

Dignitaries present include the Senator who represents Oyo Central Senatorial District, Sen. Yunus Akintunde; Representative of the Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Hon Seun Oguniyi; Speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly, Hon. Aribasoye Stephen Adeoye; and Members of the Ekiti State House of Assembly: Hon. Ogunsakin Oladele Olaoye of Ekiti East I Constituency, Hon. Longe Ademola Temitope of OYE I Constituency, Hon Adaramodu Kehinde Anthony of Ekiti South-West I Constituency and Hon. Omotayo Babatunde who represents Ise/Orun Constituency.

Others are the Director General, National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), Prof. Abubakar Olarenwaju Suleiman; the Lawmaker representing Ilorin East/South Federal Constituency, Dr. Ahmed Yinka Aluko; the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic), Prof. Olubunmi Abayomi Omotesho; Deputy Vice Chancellor (Management Services), Prof. Suleiman Folorunsho Ambali; the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research, Technology Innovation), Prof. Adegboyega Adisa Fawole, the Registrar, Mr Mansur Adeleke Alfanla, FCIML; and the University Librarian, Dr Kamaldeen Tunde Omopupa; and the Acting Bursar, Mr Oba Abdulbarki.