Chairman of the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill, Femi Gbajabiamila, yesterday warned against giving state governors unfettered operational control over police services when it takes effect.

The proposed system, he said, must answer not only the question of who would police communities, but also “who polices the police?”

He said governors could legitimately set broad security priorities and seek legislative approval for resources, but should not have personal powers to order the arrest of political opponents, stop investigations, disperse lawful gatherings or direct police conduct during elections.

“The law must draw that line through institutions, not through promises,” he said.

Gbajabiamila, who is also Chief of Staff to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, said the proposed dual policing system, comprising a Federal Police Service and State Police Services, was designed to address the limitations of Nigeria’s highly centralised policing structure. Government

The Chief of Staff called for protections for officers who refuse unlawful instructions and independent mechanisms for investigating serious misconduct by senior police officers.

According to him, appointments and removals must not become instruments for rewarding political loyalty.

He said the proposed system must also prevent officers dismissed for brutality, extortion or criminal conduct in one police service from quietly resurfacing in another jurisdiction.

According to him, the Federal Government is preparing to undertake what he described as one of the most consequential changes to Nigeria’s constitutional and security order since the return to democracy.

He said the reform would not amount to simply creating 36 additional police departments, but would require a fundamental redesign of how lawful force is organised, controlled and held accountable across the federation.

According to him, the constitutional amendment required to permit state police is already in process, with both chambers of the National Assembly having approved proposed changes to allow the establishment of Federal and State Police Services.

He explained that the amendment would still have to pass through further constitutional procedures before state police could become a reality.

He said: “The National Assembly must complete any remaining harmonisation and transmit a common text to the State Houses of Assembly. At least 24 of the 36 State Houses must approve the amendment before it can proceed for presidential assent.

“Until those steps are completed, state police remains a proposal.”

Gbajabiamila said the Presidential Working Group was, however, preparing the National Policing Bill alongside the constitutional process so that the government would be ready to commence implementation if the amendment succeeded.

He stressed that the bill could not, by itself, establish state police because the Constitution must first be amended to permit it.

Rather, he said, the proposed legislation would provide a common framework covering professional standards, state readiness, inspection, complaints, information sharing, firearms control, funding and transition. (The Nation)