Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele says state police will only succeed if it enjoys guaranteed funding, financial independence and strong legal safeguards, warning that poor financing could leave the security outfit open to political and criminal manipulation. Speaking during the ARISE News Town Hall on State Police on Thursday, the senator warned that underfunded state police […]
Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele says state police will only succeed if it enjoys guaranteed funding, financial independence and strong legal safeguards, warning that poor financing could leave the security outfit open to political and criminal manipulation.
Speaking during the ARISE News Town Hall on State Police on Thursday, the senator warned that underfunded state police would be vulnerable to pressure from politicians, influential business figures and criminal networks.
He noted that the constitutional amendment currently before the National Assembly is designed to give states the legal authority to establish police services by moving policing to the Concurrent Legislative List, rather than making it compulsory for every state.
Bamidele admitted that many Nigerians are worried about the possible abuse of state police by political office holders, adding that such concerns must be addressed through strong legal safeguards and accountability measures.
He said lawmakers intend to create a framework that will ensure transparency while encouraging citizens and civil society groups to actively monitor the activities of state police when established.
The senator proposed that the law should provide a guaranteed source of funding for state police through fixed budgetary allocations that cannot be controlled by any sitting governor or political office holder.
According to him, constitutional amendments alone will not guarantee an effective policing system, as additional reforms to the Police Act and related laws will be necessary to regulate operations and define how state police will work with existing security agencies.
Bamidele also argued that decentralised policing would produce better results if local governments are granted real autonomy, saying community policing remains the ultimate objective of the proposed reform.
He maintained that Nigeria has reached the point where state police is needed but insisted that the initiative must be supported by sustainable funding, effective legislation and mechanisms that will prevent abuse of power.