The National Economic Council (NEC) has set a deadline for all states to express their positions on the establishment of State Police by September 9, 2024.
The decision was announced during a meeting chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima on Wednesday.
Acting Governor of Oyo State, Bayo Lawal, briefed State House Correspondents after the meeting, revealing that out of the 36 states, four have yet to submit their positions to NEC.
These states have been given until Monday to make their stance known. States that fail to meet this deadline will be bound by the final decision reached by NEC.
The issue of state police has been a prominent topic in recent years, with various leaders and regional groups advocating for its establishment to address rising security challenges such as kidnapping and banditry. In February 2024, President Bola Tinubu and the governors of the 36 states reached a consensus on the need for state police as a solution to the country’s security problems.
By March 2024, 16 governors had submitted reports to NEC supporting the creation of state police and the amendment of the 1999 Constitution to facilitate this. Since then, additional states have also indicated their support, leaving only four yet to submit their positions.
Despite widespread calls for state police, the proposal has faced criticism. Concerns include potential funding challenges, with fears that some governors might seek increased monthly allocations for their states.
Additionally, there are worries that state governors could misuse state police for political purposes against their opponents.