State governors are demanding expanded constitutional authority over security operations within their domains and guaranteed funding arrangements for the proposed State Police Services.
The demands are contained in a report of a high-level strategic meeting involving state Attorneys-General, legal experts, and senior security officials, convened by the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) Secretariat in Abuja.
The report, obtained from the latest NGF bulletin, provides one of the clearest frameworks yet for the establishment of state police in Nigeria. It details proposals on operational powers, funding mechanisms, personnel management, oversight structures, and the relationship between federal and state policing institutions.
According to the bulletin, the meeting was convened to harmonise proposals for a constitutional and institutional framework for the establishment of State Police Services across the country.
The deliberations were described as “a significant milestone in ongoing efforts to strengthen the country’s security architecture through a decentralised policing system that balances local security needs with constitutional safeguards and national cohesion.”
### **The Push for Constitutional Control**
The latest push comes amid growing concerns over worsening insecurity across the country—including terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, communal conflicts, and violent crimes—which have continued to stretch the capacity of Nigeria’s centrally controlled policing structure.
A major outcome of the meeting was the proposal for greater constitutional recognition of governors’ roles in coordinating security operations. Participants reviewed legislative provisions currently under consideration, particularly clauses relating to the authority of governors in directing security operations within their states.
Delegates stressed “the importance of recognising the constitutional role of governors in coordinating security matters within their states while establishing safeguards for professionalism, accountability, and operational independence.”
Although governors are commonly referred to as the “chief security officers” of their states, they currently exercise limited direct control over security operations because the Nigeria Police Force remains under federal command.
### **Cooperative Federalism**
To address concerns that state police could be vulnerable to political manipulation by state governments, the NGF report proposed a policing model rooted in “cooperative federalism.” Under this model, federal and state police institutions would operate within clearly defined constitutional jurisdictions.
* **Federal Police Service:** Would retain exclusive responsibility for offences of national significance, including terrorism, treason, narcotics-related crimes, and interstate criminal activities.
* **State Police Services:** Would be empowered to prevent, investigate, and support the prosecution of offences within their constitutionally assigned jurisdictions, particularly offences created under state laws.
The framework also considers mechanisms for the transfer or restructuring of certain existing federal policing assets, commands, and facilities to support the new state structures.
### **Funding and Accountability**
Funding emerged as one of the most critical issues discussed. Stakeholders warned that without guaranteed, predictable funding, state police services could face operational failures that would undermine their effectiveness.
The report emphasised the need for “predictable and sustainable funding mechanisms to prevent security financing from becoming discretionary.” It highlighted the importance of securing adequate resources for personnel training, equipment, and operational readiness.
To achieve this, the meeting explored complementary financing options, including transitional federal support and the establishment of State Security Trust Funds to encourage partnerships with the private sector.
To ensure accountability and prevent abuse, participants proposed key governance and oversight mechanisms, including the inclusion of a rotating representative of State Attorneys-General on the National Police Council.
### **Personnel Transition and State Readiness**
The proposed framework includes a transition pathway for human resources. Serving members of the Nigeria Police Force would be allowed to voluntarily transfer to State Police Services without losing their rank, seniority, or pension benefits.
To ensure orderly implementation, delegates recommended that these transfer arrangements be time-bound.
Recognising that states have varying financial capacities, the framework offers flexibility. States that require additional time to establish their own police services can allow the Federal Government to continue administering policing functions within their territories until they are ready.
Next Steps
The agitation for state police dates back decades but has gained momentum due to worsening security challenges and the emergence of regional security outfits like Amotekun in the South-West and Ebube Agu in the South-East.
The House of Representatives passed a bill to amend the 1999 Constitution to allow for the establishment of state police on June 10. The governors’ recommendations are expected to feed into the ongoing constitutional amendment process, representing the closest Nigeria has come to decentralising its police force since the return to democracy in 1999.
