Nigeria has taken a major step toward establishing state police as Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, presented a comprehensive framework to the National Assembly. The proposal is expected to guide ongoing efforts to amend the Constitution and create a dual policing system in the country.
The 75-page document was submitted by the chairman of the State Police Committee, Prof. Olu Ogunsakin, to Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin in Abuja. The report outlines how state police would operate, its relationship with the federal police, and safeguards designed to prevent abuse of power.
A key recommendation in the report is the movement of policing from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent Legislative List. This would allow both federal and state governments to legally operate police services, paving the way for the creation of a Nigeria Police Service and State Police Services.
To avoid conflict and duplication of duties, the committee proposed clearly defined roles for both federal and state police through enabling laws. It also recommended that election security should remain under the control of the federal police to ensure neutrality and maintain public trust.
The framework includes strong measures to prevent governors from having absolute control over state police. It proposes multiple layers of accountability, including oversight by State Houses of Assembly and the establishment of state police councils, service commissions, and ombudsman offices.
In addition, the report recommends laws to criminalise compliance with unlawful directives issued by governors to police officers. It also suggests that state police commissioners should not be appointed solely by governors, in order to protect operational independence.
On recruitment and welfare, the committee proposed that applicants must have lived in a state for at least 10 years before joining its police service. It also provides for job security and allows officers to transfer between federal and state police without losing their benefits, including pensions.
The proposal aligns with the security agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who, alongside state governors, has supported the creation of state police to address rising insecurity and ungoverned spaces. The National Assembly is expected to review the framework as part of the ongoing constitutional amendment process.
