Bill for state police passes second reading at House of Reps

A bill to allow for state governments to create their own police and other security outfits has passed second reading at the House of Representatives.

Titled, “A Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Cap. C23, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 to Provide for State Police and other state government security services to enhance security and preservation of lives and properties in Nigeria; and other related matters”, it is sponsored by Onofiok Luke.

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For a country with a population of around 200 million, only 400,000 police are on hand, the sponsor said.

“This number falls far short of the United Nation’s recommendation of ratio 1 per 4oo citizens.

“The Constitution envisages Nigeria as a federal state. Granting allowance to state governments to establish police force and other security apparatuses will bring Nigeria into original constitutional contemplation of federal state,” he said.

The bill seeks to move items pertaining to police and government security services to the concurrent list so that both the federal and state government can both legislate on them.

“Amongst many other responsibilities of government, the responsibility of preserving lives and property ranks first,” he said.

According to the lawmaker, the principle of social contract is anchored on the protection and preservation of lives and properties.

“Any failure on the part of government to keep to this basic responsibility/contractual term portends danger.

“Many years after independence, Nigeria has continually been beset with insecurity ranging from terrorism, kidnapping, armed robbery, and domestic violence.

“There is no society without crime or manifestation of criminal behaviour, our inability to bring to the barest minimum crime is a scathing indictment on the current security architecture and structure in the country,” he noted.