TWENTY governors have yet to submit reports of their decision on state creation to the National Economic Council (NEC).
According to the Special Adviser to the Vice President on Media and Communications, Stanley Nkwocha, on Thursday, March 21, only 16 states have submitted presentations on state police.
Nkwocha said the states also recommended changes to the Constitution to allow for the creation of state police.
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Nkwocha said the NEC was still expecting reports from 20 states.
The presentations were among the documents presented at the 140th NEC meeting, which Vice President Kashim Shettima chaired on Thursday at the Aso Rock Villa in Abuja.
He stated that the Secretary to NEC, Nebeolisa Anako, made a presentation on submissions by states on the state police creation.
“States recommended changes in the Constitution and the current policing structure to enable the operationalisation of the initiative.”
However, no details were provided on the states that have yet to submit their reports.
The Vice President’s office said the compilation was ongoing and confirmed that the entire number would be disclosed at a subsequent NEC meeting.
Section 153(1) and Paragraphs 18 and 19 of Part I of the Third Schedule of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) provided the framework for creating the NEC.
The Vice President chairs the NEC, consisting of the Central Bank Governor, the 36 state governors, and other appropriation-based government officials.
It is tasked with advising the President on matters pertaining to the economy, particularly on actions required to coordinate the various Federal Government’s economic planning initiatives.
On Thursday, February 15, the Federal Government and 36 state governors agreed to create state police.
This was part of the outcome of a meeting between President Bola Tinubu and state governors at the Presidential Villa.
Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris disclosed this to reporters after the meeting.
He said the process was still in its early stages and would take shape after further discussions.
The ICIR reported that a bill for creating state police has scaled a second reading at the House of Representatives.
The bill, sponsored by the Deputy Speaker of the House, Benjamin Kalu and 14 others, seeks to alter the relevant sections of the 1999 Constitution to pave the way for states to establish their police forces across the country.
During the plenary session on Tuesday, February 21, lawmakers took turns contributing to the debate on the House floor.
Kalu, who stood in for the Speaker, Tajudeenm Abbas, encouraged members to put Nigerians’ safety above political aspirations.
The ICIR reports that there have been calls for state police in response to the country’s growing security concerns.
Kidnapping and banditry are two security issues Nigeria has struggled with in recent years after over a decade of fighting terrorism.
Supporters of the creation of state police believe it would improve policing efficacy, enable more localised control over security issues, and bring law enforcement closer to the communities they serve.
A reporter with the ICIR
A Journalist with a niche for quality and a promoter of good governance