State police: Presidency courts private sector, more states endorse bill

The Presidency has urged the organised private sector to support the funding and implementation of state police as Lagos, Sokoto and Jigawa State Houses of Assembly endorsed the proposed constitutional amendment for its establishment.

The Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, said private sector participation would help make the proposed policing system effective, while stressing the need for transparent and audited contributions that would not compromise police investigations.

The latest endorsements came after 25 state houses of assembly had approved the constitutional amendment as of October 23, bringing the number to 28.

Gbajabiamila also said states that were not financially ready to establish their own police services could continue to rely on the federal police structure.

Gbajabiamila, who is also Chairman of the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill, speaking on Monday on a panel on “Security, Stability and Economic Resilience” at the 32nd Nigerian Economic Summit, held at the Congress Hall, Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, said the committee had submitted the draft National Policing Bill alongside 29 consequential amendment bills to the Federal Ministry of Justice, adding that the proposals would be forwarded to President Bola Tinubu for approval and then transmitted to the National Assembly after further review.

Gbajabiamila asked business associations and chambers of commerce to publicly back the reform and engage governors and state lawmakers on its implementation, arguing that the cost of Nigeria’s current security arrangement was “already in your accounts” through spending on private security and disrupted deliveries.

He appealed, “I ask the organised private sector to support President Tinubu and this administration in carrying these reforms through.

“State police, in particular, deserves your active support because its success will affect the future of businesses represented in this room.

“The reform has now reached an important stage. On 23 October, 24 state Houses of Assembly had approved the constitutional amendment, meeting the required threshold.”

He explained that the state police framework was designed to combine greater state responsibility for policing with national professional standards and independent oversight, adding that enforceable limits and remedies had been built in to address concerns that police powers could be abused against political opponents or vulnerable communities.

On financing, the former lawmaker said any state taking on policing would need to demonstrate it could sustain the service beyond the initial purchase of vehicles and uniforms, stressing that regular pay and continued training were essential to professional conduct.

He said federal policing would continue in states not yet financially ready.

Gbajabiamila specifically asked the Nigerian Economic Summit Group to produce a private sector position paper on financing and implementing state police, with “practical proposals for accountable partnerships,” and to carry that engagement into the legislative process and into talks with state governments.

He said private sector involvement could extend to funding communications systems and equipment maintenance for police services, and helping states plan costs over the life of a service.

He, however, insisted that any such contributions must be transparent and independently audited, warning that “a donation must never purchase influence over an investigation or preferential treatment.”

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He linked the policing reform to the administration’s broader economic programme, citing the removal of the fuel subsidy, foreign exchange reforms and tax reforms as measures meant to strengthen government revenue, which he said depended on businesses being able to operate safely.

The Chief of Staff also highlighted other security investments under the administration, including the induction of new helicopters into Army Aviation, the return of more than 100 refurbished armoured fighting vehicles to service, the commissioning of three additional naval vessels in June to combat crude oil theft, the deployment of 10,000 Agro-Rangers across 19 states and the Federal Capital Territory, and the training of more than 7,000 Presidential Forest Guards drawn from seven frontline states.

He disclosed that President Tinubu had in August directed the preparation of a National Threat Assessment and a rolling five-year Strategic Defence Operations Plan to guide security spending and hold institutions accountable for delivery.

On Tuesday, the Sokoto State House of Assembly unanimously passed the State Police Bill, in a plenary presided over by the Speaker, Tukur Bodinga.

Confirming the development, Bodinga told The PUNCH that the House had passed the bill and promised to issue an official statement detailing the decision.

“Yes, we passed the bill today. You will see the statement any moment from now,” the Speaker said.

Also, on Tuesday, the Jigawa State House of Assembly endorsed the creation of state police, declaring that the time has come for states to take charge of their own security.

The endorsement was made during a plenary session presided over by the Speaker, Haruna Dangyatim, at the Assembly Complex in Dutse.

Commenting after deliberating on the bill, the Speaker said the House had critically examined the bill and found it to be in the best interest of the people of Jigawa State and Nigeria.

He stated that the bill comes under the 6th Alteration to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999.

Dangyatin explained that “We have done the needful and endorsed the State Police bill because our people need security that is close to them,” the Speaker said.

Dangyatim said the current centralised policing system had failed to address local security challenges, especially in rural communities.

He added that, “The Nigeria Police as presently constituted is overstretched, so state police will bring policing closer to the people and address our peculiar challenges.”

He assured that the Assembly acted within the 30-day window given to all state Houses of Assembly to concur to the amendment.