The calls for the establishment of State Police in Nigeria by the Federal Government has gotten the backing of 36 State Speakers of Houses of Assembly.
According to report, the Speakers unanimously expressed their support for the establishment of State Police in the country. This, they reasoned will boost the fight against insecurity across the country.
Buoyed by their belief, the Speakers urged the National Assembly to list the State Police proposal among the bills to be considered during the Constitution Amendment debate.
In a related development, the Speakers lamented that most State Governors are “observing in the breach”, the Constitutional provision of financial autonomy for Houses of Assembly.
On the current economic hardship being experienced by Nigerians, the Speakers urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to take further measures to mitigate the pains. They maintained that hardship was triggered by the removal of fuel subsidy and other policies initiated by the government.
The Speakers positions were contained in a communique issued at the end of a meeting they held in Abuja.
The communique which was made available to newsmen was signed by the Conference Chairman and Oyo State Speaker Adebo Ogundoyin.
Acting under the aegis of Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria, the Speakers pledged to approve the Bill on Creation of State Police if included in the proposed Constitution Review.
Recall that the 1999 Constitution as amended requires at least 24 out of the 36 Houses of Assembly to endorse the Bill to scale through.
The call for the establishment of Sate Police has gained currency of late, following the rising criminality across the country.
But a dissenting voice from no mean a person of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, rejected the proposal. He warned that Governors can abuse the outfit for political or personal gains. The IGP also feared that human rights and national security could be compromised.
The IGP made public his observation at the national dialogue on State Policing. The programme was organized on April 22 by the House of Representatives in Abuja.
But contrary to the IGP’s held opinion, Vice President Kashim Shettima stated the Federal Government’s is disposed to State Police.
The VP reiterated President Bola Tinubu Administration’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for the establishment of State Police in the country.
Also supporting the Federal Government’s position, was the former Inspector General of Police, Sunday Ehindero. He expressed the belief that State Police is the way to go in addressing the security challenges facing the country.
Toeing to line of the Federal Government, the Speakers expressed strong support for the State Police.
Their communique reads: “The Conference strongly advocates for state policing to check the negative trend of insecurity in our country.
“To achieve this, the Conference appeals to the National Assembly, Presidency and other relevant stakeholders to leverage the ongoing Constitution Review exercise.”
“The Conference of Speakers acknowledged the “courage of the President on his economic policies so far taken. Such as the removal of Petroleum product subsidy and the floating of the exchange rate.”
However, they noted that “The unintended consequences of these policies are too harsh on the populace. We therefore, urge the Federal Government and State Governments to initiate sustainable policies with equal measure of courage to ameliorate the sufferings of the people.
“The Conference observed that in spite of the Constitutional provisions that grant Financial Autonomy to the State Legislature, the implementation has been observed in breach.
“We, therefore, call on all the relevant stakeholders to comply with all the provisions in the Constitution and not by breach.”
On the festering political crisis in Rivers States, the Speakers appealed to the warring parties to sheath their swords.
They said: “The Conference appeals to the relevant political leaders in Rivers State to explore peaceful means to resolve the near impasse situation between the Legislative and Executive Arms of government of the State.
“We deliberated on a wide range (of) issues bordering on good governance in our country. Experts on relevant topics made presentations in the course of the meeting.
“The Chairmen of the House of Representatives’ Committee on Nutrition and Food Security; and Committee on Inter Parliamentary Affairs, Chike Okafor and Mark Essiet respectively, also addressed the Conference on the mandates of their Committees.”
source: The Nation
