State police: Ex-LG chairmen demand 20% of defence budget for councils

Former local government council chairmen in Edo State, Nigeria, are demanding that 20 percent of the nation's defense budget be allocated directly to local governments. They argue that these grassroots communities should be central to addressing the country's escalating insecurity.

The demand, outlined in the "LG Charter on Insecurity 2026: A Demand for Direct Grassroots Action," suggests that this funding, estimated at approximately ₦600 billion based on the current defense budget, would bolster community policing, youth employment schemes, and technology-driven surveillance across Nigeria's 774 local government areas.

The group also called for constitutional amendments to establish state police with operational commands at the local government level, citing the inadequacy of Nigeria's centralized policing structure in tackling issues like banditry, kidnapping, and armed robbery. They proposed that local government chairmen should head Joint Security Committees, integrating military, police, and other security agencies to improve intelligence gathering and response.

Furthermore, the former chairmen recommended a "Security-for-Jobs Programme" with an annual allocation of ₦500 million per local government to combat youth unemployment, a key driver of insecurity. They also suggested special intervention grants for border councils and the establishment of mobile courts to expedite justice.

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Fund the frontline: Nigeria spends about ₦3 trillion on defence, yet about 60 per cent of the country’s territory remains unsafe. Allocate 20 per cent directly to local governments to fund the Security-for-Jobs Programme and Local Government Technology Grants. They know the terrain. They know the people. Fund them or keep failing.