Committee Suggests Redeploying 60% of Police Personnel to State Commands

A committee formed by the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, to develop a framework for establishing state police has recommended that approximately 60% of police officers be deployed to these state-level commands. The proposal has garnered mixed reactions from security analysts.

Nigeria, with a population estimated at 200 million, currently has around 370,000 police officers, falling short of the UN's recommended ratio of one officer per 450 citizens. If the committee's proposal is adopted, this would mean around 222,000 officers would be assigned to state police services.

The seven-member committee submitted its report to the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, led by Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin. The committee's chairman, Professor Olu Ogunsakin, presented the 75-page document, titled “A comprehensive framework for the establishment, governance and coordination of federal and state police,” which contains professional insights and recommendations from the police force regarding the proposed state police structure.

According to sources familiar with the report, key recommendations include a two-tier policing system: a Federal Police Service (FPS) and 37 State Police Services (SPS). The FPS, intended to replace the current Nigeria Police Force pending constitutional changes, would handle national security, terrorism, interstate crimes, and federal law enforcement. The SPS would be responsible for local criminal matters, domestic violence, homicides, armed robbery, and community policing.

The framework specifically suggests that the FPS would retain 40% of its personnel for national duties, with the remaining 60% transferred to state police services. A Voluntary Transfer Programme (VTP) is envisioned, allowing federal officers to move to their home states or preferred state police services. The committee recommended a three-month salary Transfer Facilitation Grant, transition training, and guaranteed pension continuity for transferring officers.

Furthermore, the report proposes the creation of a National Police Standards Board (NPSB). This independent, 13-member federal body would set minimum national standards for recruitment, training, conduct, accountability, and funding across all police services, while also monitoring compliance and publishing annual ratings.

The framework emphasizes community policing as central to the state police model, aiming to rebuild trust between communities and law enforcement. It mandates that each State Police Service establish a Department of Community Policing and set up Community Policing Forums in every Local Government Area, comprising police, traditional rulers, women’s groups, youth organizations, and religious leaders. Community Liaison Officers would be assigned to specific communities, expected to speak local languages and be evaluated partly on community feedback.

To establish state police, amendments to Section 214 of the 1999 Constitution and the Second Schedule are required to allow for the co-existence of SPS with the FPS and move state policing from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent Legislative List. A new Section 214A would constitutionally establish the National Police Standards Board.

Addressing concerns about potential misuse of state police by governors, the report recommends constitutional safeguards against partisan deployment. These include the establishment of independent State Police Service Commissions insulated from executive influence, criminal penalties for unlawful orders, and a fast-track review process in the Federal High Court for politically motivated deployments. Oversight mechanisms are designed to prevent capture by political interests, involving State Police Service Commissions, State Police Ombudsmen, NPSB inspections, State House of Assembly committees, mandatory body-worn cameras, and public performance data.

Dedicated funding is proposed through a constitutionally mandated State Police Fund (SPF), which would receive 3% of the Federation Account allocation (distributed based on population, land area, security needs, and fiscal capacity) and a minimum of 15% from each state government's security budget.

The framework outlines a 60-month phased implementation plan. The first 12 months are designated for establishing constitutional and legal foundations. Months 13-24 would involve setting up state services and launching the VTP. Initial operations and the FPS's withdrawal from local policing would occur between months 25-42, followed by full consolidation, independent evaluation, and legislative review from months 43-60.

Security experts have offered varied perspectives on the report. Security consultant Mike Ejiofor criticized the proposal to transfer 60% of existing police officers, suggesting that state police should recruit their own personnel, trained by the federal police, and operate independently. He also questioned the exemption of state police from combating terrorism and banditry, arguing they should handle all local crimes, with the federal police prosecuting serious offenses like terrorism.

Ejiofor also expressed concern that the proposed National Police Standards Board could unduly tie state police to federal control, questioning its necessity in a federal system.

However, Dr. Ndu Nwokolo, managing partner at Nextier SPD, believes the NPSB could bolster public confidence by mitigating concerns about political abuse of the state policing system, acting as a check against issues arising from state governments' complete control.

Security analyst Senator Iroegbu noted that the board's effectiveness would depend on its advisory or supervisory role, suggesting it might represent a compromise to address fears of gubernatorial overreach.

Dr. Kabiru Adamu, Managing Director of Beacon Consults, stated that the report reflects the police hierarchy's viewpoint and highlighted potential gaps. He cautioned that fiscal disparities between states could lead to a two-tiered security system. Adamu also pointed out operational challenges in defining clear boundaries for interstate coordination and federal-state relations, the lack of a definitive conflict resolution mechanism for jurisdictional disputes, and vagueness on cross-border crimes and 'hot pursuits'. The absence of unified national standards for training, use-of-force protocols, and a centralized firearms registry were also cited as concerns.

Adamu warned that without addressing these structural flaws, the transition to state policing might simply decentralize existing NPF problems rather than enhancing national security.

Meanwhile, Senate Leader Senator Opeyemi Bamidele affirmed that the National Assembly is working on a decentralized police model focused on accountability and preventing political abuse. He stated that the parliament is committed to creating a framework for a decentralized police model that serves everyone's interests, regardless of status.

Bamidele added that the new police framework will incorporate accountability mechanisms to prevent power abuse by politicians, strengthen justice administration, discourage impunity, and protect fundamental human rights.