The Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre, RULAAC, has expressed concern over claims that making state police funding a first-line charge in the Constitution will guarantee the independence of state police services from political interference by governors.
Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele was reported as saying that placing state police service on first-line charge would give it autonomy and shield it from the interference by state governors.
However, RULAAC, in a statement issued on Thursday, said financial autonomy alone would not guarantee independence and accountability in state police.
“While financial autonomy is an important institutional safeguard, Nigeria’s experience demonstrates that constitutional guarantees alone do not automatically translate into genuine operational independence or accountability.
“The judiciary, for instance, enjoys constitutional protection through a first-line charge on the Consolidated Revenue Fund.
“Yet, judicial officers and institutions have continued to complain about delays in the release of funds, executive control over administrative processes, procurement bottlenecks, and other forms of financial and institutional dependence.
“Similarly, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), despite its constitutional status, has at different times raised concerns over delayed or inadequate release of funds for critical electoral activities,” RULAAC said.
According to RULAAC, these experiences showed that constitutional funding arrangements, while desirable, are not sufficient safeguards against political interference.
Calling for the debate on state police to go beyond funding, RULAAC raised some fundamental questions it said have remain unanswered.
“Who will control recruitment, promotions and discipline?
“Who will appoint and remove State Commissioners of Police.
“What mechanisms will protect officers who refuse unlawful political directives?
“What independent oversight institutions will investigate complaints against state police?
“How will citizens obtain effective remedies for abuses”?
Other issues that RULAAC raised were how conflicts between federal and state policing powers would be resolved; and the safeguards that would exist against the capture of state police by governors, political parties, wealthy interests, criminal networks, or other powerful actors.
RULAAC noted that these issues cannot be resolved merely by creating a constitutionally guaranteed funding mechanism.
The Accountability Centre also expressed worry about the apparent absence of broad public engagement on a constitutional reform of the magnitude of state police.
Pointing out that the establishment of state police would fundamentally alter Nigeria’s security architecture and significantly affect the rights and freedoms of citizens, it insisted that such far-reaching proposal should not be advanced without comprehensive public consultations and transparent legislative scrutiny.
RULAAC called on the National Assembly to
publish the full State Police Bill and all proposed constitutional amendments for public review.
RULAAC also recommended that comprehensive public hearings be conducted in all geopolitical zones
This, it said, would allow citizens, civil society organisations, professional bodies, security experts, traditional institutions, labour unions, and other stakeholders to make meaningful contributions.
RULAAC also called the National Assembly to subject every proposed safeguard to rigorous public examination rather than relying on assurances from political office holders.
It asked the lawmakers to onsider alternative reforms to strengthen community-oriented policing, accountability, operational decentralisation, and resource allocation within the Nigeria Police Force before embarking on a constitutional restructuring whose long-term implications have not been adequately debated.
“Nigeria needs effective policing that is professional, accountable, rights-respecting, and responsive to local security challenges.
“Achieving that objective requires more than constitutional guarantees of funding. It demands strong institutions, independent oversight, transparent governance, and broad public confidence.”
RULAAC reminded the National Assembly that it owes Nigerians a transparent, participatory, and evidence-based constitutional reform process,
It added that nothing less would suffice on a matter as consequential as the creation of state police.
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