State Police: 30 CSOs demand strong accountability safeguards ahead of possible Senate approval

Thirty civil society organizations in Nigeria are calling for robust accountability and governance safeguards as momentum builds for the potential establishment of state police. The coalition, known as Open Alliance, warns that decentralizing policing without effective oversight could undermine public trust and citizens' rights.

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Devolution of Policing in Nigeria: Pathways to Effective and Accountable State Policing

The group's call follows a stakeholder dialogue in Abuja focused on the devolution of policing in Nigeria and pathways to effective and accountable state policing. The event gathered civil society organizations, governance institutions, development partners, legal practitioners, security experts, media professionals, and policy actors to examine the prospects and risks associated with state police. This discussion comes amid increased security challenges in the country and a renewed national debate over security sector reforms, with reports suggesting the National Assembly could soon conclude constitutional amendments related to state police. The Senate leader indicated that the proposal for state police might receive legislative approval this week.

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Discussions around state police must go beyond structural reforms and focus on accountability, transparency, and the protection of fundamental rights.

In a joint statement, Open Alliance stressed that discussions around state police must extend beyond structural reforms to prioritize accountability, transparency, and the protection of fundamental rights. The coalition highlighted Nigeria's ongoing struggles with worsening security, declining public confidence in law enforcement, and persistent concerns about police accountability. They noted that while state police is a prominent proposal, critical questions about governance structures, funding, institutional capacity, and oversight mechanisms remain unresolved.

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State police should not be viewed as a stand-alone solution to Nigeria’s security challenges but as one component of broader reforms aimed at improving service delivery, legitimacy and public trust in policing.

Participants at the dialogue argued that the success of any policing model hinges not only on the location of powers but also on the strength of oversight and redress institutions. They advocated for state police to be viewed as part of broader reforms aimed at improving service delivery, legitimacy, and public trust, rather than a standalone solution. Open Alliance urged policymakers to ensure that evidence, wide consultations, and strong accountability frameworks guide the ongoing reforms, emphasizing the need for citizen participation and mechanisms for transparency and responsiveness to local communities' needs. They cautioned that without adequate safeguards, devolving policing powers could introduce new governance challenges and expose citizens to potential abuses.

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Without adequate safeguards, devolving policing powers could create new governance challenges and expose citizens to potential abuses.