The National Economic Council (NEC) has issued a deadline of September 9, 2024, for all states to declare their position on the establishment of State Police. The directive was given during a meeting chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima on Wednesday.
Following the meeting, Acting Governor of Oyo State, Bayo Lawal, briefed State House Correspondents, revealing that out of the 36 states in the country, four had yet to submit their stance on the matter to NEC. Lawal noted that these states have been instructed to make their positions known by Monday.
While the specific states were not identified during the briefing, NEC made it clear that any state failing to submit its position by the deadline would have to accept the final decision reached by the council.
Discussions surrounding the establishment of State Police have intensified over the past few years, with various leaders, including Governors and regional socio-political groups such as Afenifere and Ohanaeze Ndigbo, advocating for it as a solution to the rising issues of abduction, banditry, and other crimes.
In response to these calls, President Bola Tinubu and the 36 Governors reached an agreement in mid-February 2024 to pursue the establishment of State Police as a strategy to address the escalating security challenges in Nigeria. By the following month, 16 Governors had already presented their reports to NEC, expressing their support for the initiative and the necessary amendment of the 1999 Constitution.
Since then, more states have submitted their positions on the issue, leaving only four states yet to make their entries. Despite widespread support, the proposal for State Police has faced some criticism, with concerns about funding challenges and fears that Governors could misuse State Police to target political opponents.
