State policing requires consensus, cooperation between FG, other govts – Senate Leader

The Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, has called for the application of caution in the path to constitutional amendment and state police.

He spoke on Monday while delivering a lecture series organised by the Department of Political Science of the University of Ilorin in conjunction with the Institute of Legislative Studies, titled.

In his lecture titled “Constitutional Amendment and Political Dynamics of State Policing in Nigeria,” the Senate Leader said security affairs should be decentralised in the country.

He averred that with proper control mechanisms put in place, state policing will be a success.

“Another critical aspect to consider is the economic feasibility of state policing. Establishing and maintaining state police forces requires a significant financial investment. States must be prepared to allocate adequate resources for training, equipping, and remunerating their police personnel.

“The Federal Government, on its part, can support this transition through grants and technical assistance, ensuring that no state is left behind due to financial constraints.

“The path to constitutional amendment and the establishment of state policing in Nigeria must be carefully navigated. It requires broad consensus and collaboration among federal, state, and local governments,” he said.