Constitution review: Senators united on LG autonomy, split over state police

The Senate Committee on Constitution Review has concluded its two-day retreat on the amendments to the 1999 constitution in Kano and agreed to include full autonomy for local governments in the country’s legal document.

The federal lawmakers, however, expressed divergent views on the issue of state police.

While those in support said insecurity would be nipped in the bud if state police is created, others said governors would use it to deal with their political opponents.

The retreat was organised by the Senate committee on constitution amendment led by the deputy Senate president, Senator Barau Jibrin, in collaboration with the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC).

Senate leader, Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central); former Chief Whip, Ali Ndume (APC, Borno South); Chairman Senate Committee on Finance, Sani Musa (APC, Niger); Senators Abdulfatai Buhari, Osita Izunaso and Ned Nwoko in their separate submissions insisted that full autonomy for local governments was long overdue.

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On state police, Senator Musa who supported the idea said, “when we are talking about State Police, every state in this country is facing one insecurity or the other and I believe that if we look at the issue of State Police, it will be good for us.”

But Senator Ali Ndume said, “What we need is to increase the manpower of the police and improve their welfare for effective policing. State Police would be abused by the governors.”

On creation of additional state, Senator Izunaso said, “The most important agenda the South East Caucus in the National Assembly has is to push for equity and justice. We need an additional state in the South East so that we come to terms with other zones in the country that all have six each.”

Also, Senator Nwoko said, “The Anioma state creation for me is something that has to be done, if that is the only state that is created in this period, I will not be surprised. Agitation for Anioma state had been going on for almost 50 years, it is the oldest agitation for a state.”