Former Edo State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr. Samson Osagie, has said the proposed bill to establish State Police in Nigeria could improve response to insecurity, but must be backed by strong legal frameworks and accountability
Speaking in an interview on the Frontiers, an NTA International Program, Dr. Osagie said the issue has generated intense national debate, with Nigerians divided on whether decentralising policing is the solution to the country’s security challenges.
According to him the Greek Proverb days “Necessity is usually the mother of all inventions,” Dr Samson Osagie said “After over a decade of battling insecurity, banditry, terrorism, and other forms of criminalities, it has become pertinent to explore new measures to end or minimize to the barest minimum the problemsof insecurity”
The former Federal Lawmaker also noted that Nigeria has been bedevilled by numerous security challenges under the current centralised police structure. He observed that state governments do not have control over the security architecture within their states, and as a result, government must “think outside the box.”
According to him, the Federal Government is now considering a state police structure intended to enable swifter response to security issues.
Dr. Osagie cited Sections 32, 34, 35 and 39 of the 1999 Constitution in which the phrase ” Nigerian Police Force ” was copiusly used as the sole law enforcement organ of the country with the mandate to ensure law and order, adding that the contemplation of an additional layer of policing is therefore not out of place within the framework of the nation’s constitution.
He further disclosed that Section 153 and 197 of the Constitution is being amended to provide for a dual policing structure.
At the federal level, there will be a Federal Police Force headed by the Inspector General of Police to be appointed by the President on the recommendation of the National Police Council while the recruitment, promotion and discipline of other tanks of the Federal Police remains the function of the National Police Service Commission. At the state level, states will be empowered to create their own State Police Structure by laws made by the various State Houses of Assembly why the State Governor will have the power to appoint tye State Commissioner of Police upon the recommendation of the state police service commission and confirmation by the State House of Assembly.
He said the Federal Police will enforce federal laws and prosecute federal offences, while the State Police will perform similar functions at the state level.
However, Dr. Osagie stressed that structure and accountability are critical for state police to function optimally.
“There will be National Minimum Standard for the policing by a Law to be enacted by the National Assembly. He explained thqt the bill contain provisions which will make state police commissioners not to carry out certain instructions if those instructions are illegal or inconsistent with the National minimum standard of policing.
He submitted that there must be lawful directives in line with the national minimum standard,” he said.
He added that there must be laid-down rules and regulations, and proper training for officers when the law comes into force, to ensure no officer takes the law into their own hands.
He concluded that putting all necessary measures in place is critical to ensure effective checks against abuse as the country continues to confront security challenges.