The 36 state governors have renewed their call for greater constitutional authority over security operations within their respective states as discussions on the establishment of state police continue.
The position was reached following a high-level meeting involving state Attorneys-General, legal experts, and senior security officials, aimed at harmonising proposals for a constitutional and institutional framework for decentralised policing across Nigeria.
A key proposal from the meeting seeks stronger constitutional recognition of governors’ roles in coordinating security operations at the state level.
Participants also developed a policing model based on cooperative federalism, under which federal and state police institutions would operate within clearly defined constitutional and statutory jurisdictions.
Under the proposed framework, the Federal Police Service would retain exclusive responsibility for offences considered national in scope, while State Police Services would be empowered to prevent, investigate, and support the prosecution of offences within their assigned jurisdictions, particularly offences created under state laws.
The proposal further outlines mechanisms for the transfer or restructuring of certain policing assets, commands, and facilities to support the effective operation of state police services.
Another recommendation calls for the inclusion of a rotating representative of State Attorneys-General on the National Police Council to enhance state participation in national policing oversight and policy formulation.
Stakeholders also emphasised the importance of sustainable funding for state police structures, stressing the need for clear constitutional provisions to guarantee predictable financial support.
According to participants, adequate and consistent funding is essential to ensure the effectiveness, efficiency, and long-term viability of state policing operations across the country.
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