The Sokoto State House of Assembly has thrown its weight behind the creation of state police, unanimously approving a proposed constitutional amendment aimed at allowing states to establish their own police services.
The resolution was passed during Tuesday’s plenary following a motion moved by the Deputy Majority Leader, Mustapha Abdullahi, who represents Sokoto South II.
The proposal seeks to introduce a system in which federal and state police operate independently but alongside each other, with clearly defined responsibilities for tackling insecurity.
While presenting the motion, Abdullahi explained that the amendment had already been considered by the Senate on June 24 and the House of Representatives on July 23 before reaching the Sokoto Assembly on September 22.
Under the proposed arrangement, the Nigeria Police Force would retain responsibility for national security matters, including terrorism, cybercrime, international offences, border protection and the security of federal government facilities.
State police officers would concentrate on community-level security, investigating local offences, protecting residents and their property, and maintaining peace within their respective states.
“Conversely, state police services would be responsible for law enforcement, maintenance of public order and safety, protection of lives and property, and investigation of local crimes.
“Therefore, the federal police and state police will function side-by-side in every state,” Abdullahi said.
He also explained that federal police authorities could intervene in a state’s policing affairs if the governor requested assistance or if the state police were unable to contain a serious breakdown of law and order.
The proposal provides for each state police service to be headed by a State Commander of Police. The governor would appoint the commander based on a recommendation from the National Police Council, subject to approval by the state assembly.
It also proposes a State Police Service Commission to oversee the recruitment, promotion and discipline of personnel, excluding the state police commander.
On funding, Abdullahi said the commission would receive money directly from the state’s Consolidated Revenue Fund, a provision intended to guarantee financial independence.
He added that federal police operations would continue in every state until the respective state police service was ready to begin work.
The lawmaker further cited Section 9(2) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, which requires constitutional amendments to receive approval from the Houses of Assembly of at least two-thirds of Nigeria’s states.
Several lawmakers who contributed to the debate supported the proposal, describing decentralised policing as a possible solution to the security challenges facing different parts of the country.
The Speaker, Alhaji Tukur Bala, subsequently put the motion to a voice vote, and the lawmakers unanimously adopted it.
The approval by the Sokoto Assembly forms part of the constitutional amendment process required to establish state police in Nigeria.