Calls for the establishment of state police got the backing of speakers of the 36 Houses of Assembly yesterday.
They expressed support for their which they believed will boost the push against insecurity.
The speakers also urged the National Assembly to list the state police proposal among the bills that would be considered during the constitution amendment debate.
The speakers lamented that most governors are “observing in the breach”, the constitutional provision of financial autonomy for Houses of Assembly.
They urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to take further measures to mitigate the pains, hardship triggered by the removal of fuel subsidy and other policies initiated by the government to reboot the economy.
Their positions were contained in a communique issued at the end of a meeting they held in Abuja under the aegis of Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria.
The communique which was made available to reporters was signed by Conference Chairman and Oyo State Speaker Adebo Ogundoyin.
They pledged to approve the Bill on Creation of State Police if included in the proposed constitution review.
The 1999 Constitution requires that at least 24 out of the 36 Houses of Assembly must endorse the bill to scale through.
Many Nigerians argue that state police will curtail rising crime across the land.
But the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, rejected the proposal, warning that the governors can abuse the outfit for political or personal gains and compromise human rights and national security.
Egbetokun spoke at the national dialogue on state policing organised on April 22 by the House of Representatives in Abuja, with the theme: “Pathways to peace: Reimagining policing in Nigeria.”
Egbetokun was represented at the event by Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) Ben Okolo.
Okolo who said opposition to state police was the opinion of the police leadership, curiously, recounted the day after the dialogue, claiming that he merely expressed his personal opinion.
At the event, Vice President Kashim Shettima reiterated the President Bola Tinubu Administration’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for the establishment of state police in the country.
The IG stand drew flaks from a cross-section of Nigerians, including a one-time police boss, Sunday Ehindero, who expressed the belief that state police is the way to go.
The speakers’ communique reads: “The Conference strongly advocates for state policing to check the negative trend of insecurity in our country.
“To achieve this, the Conference appeals to the National Assembly, Presidency and other relevant stakeholders to leverage the ongoing constitution review exercise.”
“The Conference of Speakers acknowledged the “courage of the President on his economic policies taken so far such as the removal of Petroleum product subsidy and the floating of the exchange rate.”
They noted: “The unintended consequences of these policies are too harsh on the populace. We therefore, urge the Federal Government and State Governments to initiate sustainable policies with equal measure of courage to ameliorate the sufferings of the people.
“The Conference observed that in spite of the constitutional provisions that grant Financial Autonomy to the State Legislature, the implementation has been observed in breach.
“We therefore, call on all the relevant stakeholders to comply with all the provisions in the Constitution and not by breach.”
The state assembly’ helmsmen appealed to the warring parties in Rivers State to sheath their sword.
They said: “The Conference appeals to the relevant political leaders in Rivers State to explore peaceful means to resolve the near impasse situation between the Legislative and Executive Arms of government of the state.
“We deliberated on a wide range (of) issues bordering on good governance in our country. Experts on relevant topics made presentations in the course of the meeting.
“The chairmen of the House of Representatives’ Committee on Nutrition and Food Security; and Committee on Inter Parliamentary Affairs, Chike Okafor and Mark Essiet respectively, also addressed the Conference on the mandates of their committees.”
<<The Nation>>