By Chimezie Godfrey
The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre and Transparency International Nigeria have expressed concern over the recently passed constitutional amendment bill on state policing, warning that the proposed reform could be abused for political purposes if critical safeguards are not put in place.
In a statement on Friday signed by the Executive Director of CISLAC and Head of Transparency International Nigeria, Comrade Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, the organisation said while decentralised policing could improve intelligence gathering and responses to local security threats, the initiative would fail without comprehensive legal, institutional and governance reforms.
The organisation urged lawmakers to address identified gaps before the bill is ratified by state Houses of Assembly and assented to by the President.
According to the statement, one of the greatest risks is political interference, warning that state police formations could be exploited by governors and political actors to intimidate opposition figures, journalists and civil society organisations, as well as influence elections.
CISLAC also called for transparent and merit-based recruitment, insisting that political loyalists, thugs and other politically exposed persons must not be absorbed into state police formations.
The organisation further expressed concern over the financial capacity of many states, warning that inadequate funding could create a two-tier policing system where wealthier states maintain effective security outfits while poorer states struggle with underfunded and ineffective police organisations.
It also advocated stronger oversight mechanisms, independent State Police Service Commissions, transparent procurement, mandatory audits, improved human rights training, intelligence sharing, and effective disciplinary procedures.
The group urged the Federal Government and the National Assembly to establish a multi-stakeholder transitional committee to supervise the phased implementation of state policing.
Rafsanjani said, “State policing holds immense potential to enhance local responsiveness to insecurity, but without ironclad safeguards, it risks becoming a new frontier for abuse and fragmentation. We urge the 36 State Houses of Assembly, Governors, and the Presidency to prioritise the public interest by addressing these concerns decisively. True security reform must serve the people, not entrench elite power.”
CISLAC Warns State Police Could Be Weaponised, Demands Stronger Safeguards
