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State police: Tinubu’s vague campaign promise worries Nigerians as killings escalate. Amid rising insecurity across the country, many Nigerians have intensified the call for the creation of state police.

However, President Bola Tinubu, whose opinion on the issue matters, has kept his cards very close to his chest.

Demand for state police has, in the last couple of years, become a political landmine. Because of the fear of abuse by governors, members of the National Assembly have consistently rejected any bill seeking to amend the constitution to allow state police.

In 2022, the National Assembly and Governors had a standstill over the state police bill. During the last constitution alteration exercise, the National Assembly rejected the state police bill.

However, the bill was reintroduced by Uba Sani, who was representing Kaduna Central in the Senate.

The governors had insisted that they would reject all other bills if the National Assembly did not reconsider the state police bill. But the lawmakers stood their ground.

The Nigerian Labour Congress and Nigerian Union of Teachers also backed the lawmakers, stating that governors who are unable to pay the salaries of civil servants cannot be trusted with state police. Hence, the last Assembly did not pass the bill.

The recent insecurity is driving a new conversation on state police. Nigerians across the country are living under uncertainty caused by general insecurity. Less than four weeks into the new year, Nigeria has experienced mass killings, mass abductions, and other vices that have left the people in a state of panic and confusion.

While President Tinubu is currently in France for a personal visit, Plateau State is burning despite the curfew declared by Governor Caleb Muftang, and the FCT is currently being ravaged by kidnappers.

According to a recent online poll conducted by Joe Abah, a former Director General of the Bureau of Public Service Reforms, 45 per cent of the 1,593 respondents opposed the creation of state police for the fear of abuse, but 54 per cent supported the creation for personal safety.

Mr Abah had posted on his X: “When we mostly agree that something is not working (like unitary policing), we should not be afraid to try something new (like state police) for fear of abuse, particularly as the current system is similarly being abused. Instead, let’s think of how to constrain any future abuse.”

Amid the ongoing conversation, governors have been creating security outfits. The Southwest created Amotekun, and the Southeast governors also created Ebubeagu. While the former has gotten commendations in the Southwest, Ebubeagu is facing allegations of abuse.

Mr Tinubu’s vague position on state police

Passing the state police bill will require the amendment of the constitution by removing police from the exclusive legislative list to the concurrent list.

The process of the amendment is a long one that starts in the two chambers of the National Assembly, then to the state assemblies (24 out of 36) and finally to the president for assent. Because of the history of this bill and the fear of the lawmakers, the bill may require the support of the President to pass through.

However, President Tinubu, who abstained from all presidential debates during the campaign, does not have a clear position on the issue of state police.

As a candidate, Mr Tinubu did not grant interviews except for an 8-minute interview with the BBC and a less than 5-minute interview with Channels TV. Therefore, Nigerians did not get the opportunity to see Tinubu’s ideas interrogated.

During a dialogue series organised by the Arewa Elders Forum in 2022, Mr Tinubu was asked about his position on state police. He said he would work with the National Assembly on state police.

“If you give me the mandate, my administration will give it all the attention necessary to consolidate the recent investment in our security by President Muhammadu Buhari.

“Security is the foundation of resources. I am committed to mobilising all assets within our national power to secure Nigeria. We will mobilise resources to enhance the welfare of personnel and provide the right equipment and training required for them to secure us all,” he said then.

Months later, he released his manifesto, the Renewed Hope Agenda, but the document did not contain a clear position on state police.

On page 9 of the manifesto, Mr Tinubu stated that the establishment of local enforcement will be on a state-to-state basis.

He stated that some places may only get neighbourhood watch.

“These measures will be flexible and adaptive to fit local realities and challenges. Some instances may call for the establishment or enhancement of civilian neighbourhood watch groups. Others may require the establishment of more formal locally-based law enforcement institutions,” he said.

(‎@NaijaAnchorNews  )
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