Ogun ex-lawmaker hails N’Assembly’s passage of state police bill

Kayode Oladele, a former member of Nigeria's House of Representatives and ex-Acting Chairman of the Federal Character Commission, has lauded the National Assembly's recent passage of a constitutional alteration bill that permits the establishment of state police forces. Oladele characterized the move as a crucial and far-reaching constitutional measure designed to address Nigeria's increasingly severe security challenges.

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There can be no meaningful development without security. Section 14(2)(b) of the Constitution clearly provides that the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.

Oladele, who is also a Nigerian-American legal practitioner, stated that the proposed legislation presents a significant opportunity to bolster Nigeria's internal security framework and reinforce the fundamental principles of federalism. While acknowledging that the bill requires further approval from at least two-thirds of state Houses of Assembly and presidential assent to become law, he emphasized that its passage by both the Senate and the House of Representatives marks a major milestone in the nation's constitutional development.

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The increasing incidence of terrorism, kidnapping, armed banditry, communal conflicts, farmer-herder clashes and other violent crimes has demonstrated that the existing policing structure requires urgent constitutional review.

He asserted that the country's escalating security concerns, including terrorism, kidnapping, and armed banditry, have highlighted the limitations of a highly centralized policing system. Oladele stressed the necessity of institutional reforms that bring law enforcement closer to the populace, aligning with the constitutional mandate that the security and welfare of the people are the primary purpose of government. He believes that a single, centrally controlled police force cannot effectively manage security in a nation as vast and diverse as Nigeria, and that the proposed state police system is consistent with federalist principles.

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The proposal should be viewed as a constitutional response to contemporary security realities rather than a political concession. Federalism requires the meaningful devolution of governmental responsibilities in a manner that promotes efficiency, accountability and responsiveness.