36 house of assembly speakers back creation of state police

The speakers of Nigeria’s 36 state houses of assembly have supported the ongoing process by the national assembly to create state police.

The speakers made their resolution known in a communique issued at the end of the meeting of the conference of speakers of state legislatures held in Abuja on Thursday.

Adebo Ogundoyin, speaker of the Oyo house of assembly and chairman of the conference, signed the communique.

The speakers said state policing would check the negative trend of insecurity in the country.

“To achieve this, the Conference appeals to the National Assembly, Presidency and other relevant Stakeholders to leverage on the ongoing constitution review exercise,” the communique reads.

The two chambers of the national assembly are working to amend some provisions of the 1999 constitution to include items such as state police.

Last month, Kayode Egbetokun, inspector-general of police (IGP), said Nigeria is not “mature” for state police.

On February 15, the federal government set up a committee to explore the creation of state police in the country.

Mohammed Idris, minister of information and national orientation, said President Bola Tinubu and governors have agreed on modalities for the concept.

The minister added that a series of meetings would take place to determine the workability of a decentralised police force.