The clamour for state police on Thursday received the endorsement of Speakers of Nigeria’s 36 Houses of Assembly with leaders of the states legislative arm joining the fray in calling for the establishment of state police to tackle insecurity in the country.
The Speakers urged the National Assembly to include the proposal for state police among bills to be considered in their ongoing processes to amend the constitution.
They also urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to take further measures to cushion the current hardship being faced by Nigerians following the removal of fuel subsidy and other economic policies.
The Speakers under the aegis of Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria made these assertions in a communique they issued at the end of their meeting in Abuja.
The communique was signed by Chairman, of the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria Adebo Ogundoyin.
They expressed their readiness to approve the a Bill on creation of State police if included as part of the constitution review.
The communique reads: “The Conference strongly advocates for state policing to check the negative trend of insecurity in our country.
“To achieve this, the Conference appeals to the National Assembly, Presidency and other relevant stakeholders to leverage on the ongoing constitution review exercise.”
The Conference of Speakers acknowledged the “courage of the President on his economic policies taken so far such as the removal of Petroleum product subsidy and the floating of the exchange rate.”
Nigeria not ripe for state police
They noted that “the unintended consequences of these policies are too harsh on the populace.”
They added: “We therefore, urge the Federal Government and State Governments to initiate sustainable policies with equal measure of courage to ameliorate the sufferings of the people.
“The Conference observed that in spite of the constitutional provisions that grant Financial Autonomy to the State Legislature, the implementation has been observed in breach.
“We therefore, call on all the relevant stakeholders to comply with all the provisions in the Constitution and not by breach.”
The state legislatures helmsmen also appealed to the warring parties in Rivers State politics terrain to sheath their sword.
“The Conference appeals to the relevant political leaders in Rivers State to explore peaceful means to resolve the near impasse situation between the Legislative and Executive Arms of government of the state,” they said.
The Nation
