Poor funding could expose state police to abuse — Bamidele

Leader of the Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, has said the proposed state police services should have constitutionally guaranteed funding as a first-line charge to prevent political interference and ensure operational independence.

Bamidele, who is also the Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, made the position known in a statement issued on Wednesday by his Directorate of Media and Public Affairs. He said concerns raised by stakeholders over the proposed establishment of state police were legitimate and would be addressed during the ongoing constitutional amendment process.
According to him, many of the fears stem from experiences under the First Republic, when the 1960 and 1963 Constitutions empowered regional governments to establish police forces, a system that was reportedly abused. To prevent a repeat, he said the National Assembly was designing multiple safeguards that would strengthen discipline, institutional independence and financial autonomy for state police services.
Bamidele explained that the legislature intends to make the funding of state police a first-line charge, similar to the funding arrangement for the judiciary under the 1999 Constitution. He noted that this would guarantee direct access to funds for the Commissioner of Police and the State Police Service Commission, ensuring they are not subjected to the discretion or influence of state governors.
He stressed that if the funding of state police depended solely on governors, a governor could withhold funds whenever the police failed to act in line with political interests. To avoid such a situation, he said the Constitution should mandate a specific percentage of every state’s budget for state police operations, with clear provisions on access to the funds.
The Senate Leader assured Nigerians that the National Assembly remained committed to establishing a state police system that would be accountable to the people while addressing all concerns raised by stakeholders. He added that adequate funding was essential for the new police structure to effectively discharge its constitutional responsibilities.
Bamidele also explained that the ongoing constitutional review seeks to move policing from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent Legislative List, thereby allowing state governments to establish their own police services alongside the federal police.
He further warned that the risks to state police extend beyond political interference, noting that inadequate funding could also leave the system vulnerable to manipulation by the business class, criminal elements, cabals and other organisations. According to him, a poorly funded state police service would ultimately fail to achieve its intended purpose, making constitutional financial safeguards indispensable.