back to top

Senate calls for decentralisation of Nigerian Police, endorses community policing

THE Senate has called for the de-centralisation of the Nigeria Police Force and the need for community policing as a way of addressing the country’s problem of insecurity. 

According to a Twitter message by the Nigerian Senate , this was part of the recommendations of the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on Nigeria Security Challenges which was considered and approved during plenary on Tuesday.

Ajibola Basiru, Chairman Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs and senator representing Osun Central Senatorial district who signed the statement released on Twitter said the Senate urged urged the Executive to direct the Ministry of Police Affairs and the Inspector General of Police to “decentralize the police command structure with operational and budgetary powers” vested in the zonal commands.

The Senate also urged the Federal Government to set up Zonal Security Advisory Committees at each Zonal Command to advise on the security challenges facing each zone, he said.

The red chamber, accordingly, urged the Federal Government to direct the Ministry of Police affairs and the Inspector General of Police to immediately implement the Community Policing Strategy involving local stakeholders at the grassroots, and traditional rulers with a view to addressing local security challenges.

The Senate spokesperson added that the upper chamber while urging the state assemblies to make necessary laws to legalise community policing to be established at the Local Government level, called on State Governors to fund community policing from grants appropriated to each Local Government.

It would be recalled that the upper chamber had set up an Ad-hoc Committee on Nigeria Security Challenges on January 29, 2020, under the Chairmanship of Yahaya A. Abdullahi, the Senate Leader and  senator representing Kebbi North.

Basiru said the committee in its report made wide ranging recommendations which were also approved by the chamber.




     

     

    The Senate he said also called for composition of the Zonal Advisory Council as proposed by the upper chamber which includes; Governors in the Zone; Zonal AIG of Police; State Commissioners of Police in the Zone; State Directors of the Department of State Security Service; Zonal Immigration Officers;

    Zonal Customs Officers; and Representative of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps in the Zone.

    Read Also:

    Others are: Representative of the Nigeria Correctional Service in the Zone; Chairmen of State Traditional Rulers Council in the Zone; Faith-based Leaders in the Zone; Civil Society representatives in the Zone; representative of Senators from the Zone; Representative of Members of House of Representatives from the Zone; Representatives of Business Community and Labour in the Zone; and any person or persons deemed to be useful and relevant, taking into account the socio-cultural peculiarities of the zone.

    Recommendations were also made for the expansion of the State Security Council and constitution of Area Command, Local Government and Ward Level Advisory Councils.

     

    Join the ICIR WhatsApp channel for in-depth reports on the economy, politics and governance, and investigative reports.

    Support the ICIR

    We invite you to support us to continue the work we do.

    Your support will strengthen journalism in Nigeria and help sustain our democracy.

    If you or someone you know has a lead, tip or personal experience about this report, our WhatsApp line is open and confidential for a conversation

    LEAVE A REPLY

    Please enter your comment!
    Please enter your name here


    Support the ICIR

    We need your support to produce excellent journalism at all times.

    -Advertisement-

    Recent

    - Advertisement