State Police: Senate assures safeguards against abuse
As the moves to establish state police gathers momentum, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele has said that the National Assembly was developing a decentralised policing framework designed to strengthen accountability and prevent misuse by politicians.
Bamidele, who is the Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, stated that the proposed model would devolve policing powers to sub-national authorities.
However, he emphasised that this would be paired with strict safeguards to ensure transparency, justice, and the protection of fundamental human rights.
In a statement released, Sunday, in Abuja to mark President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 74th birthday, the Senate Leader applauded the administration’s efforts to stabilise the country and tackle persistent insecurity.
”The essence of this model is to devolve policing powers to sub-national authorities to ensure effective governance even in the remotest parts of the country,” Bamidele noted.
“It will also set clear guardrails to prevent misuse by political actors.”
The Senate Leader restated the National Assembly’s commitment to crafting a structure that would serve all citizens, regardless of status.
Key highlights of the ongoing reform include treating the initiative as a matter of urgency to address Nigeria’s security challenges.
The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has already submitted a 75-page framework to Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin for legislative consideration.
The proposed model slso incorporates mechanisms to discourage impunity, reinforce the administration of justice, and protection of civil liberties.
Bamidele described the initiative as a shared commitment between the Presidency and the National Assembly to adopt global best practices.
He lauded President Tinubu as a “man of history, purpose, and vision,” noting that while his reforms have been initially challenging, they are beginning to yield positive results.
