Senator representing Abia South Senatorial District, Enyinnaya Abaribe, has urged the Federal Government to ensure that funds allocated for the proposed state police system are not placed under the control of state governments.
Abaribe said funding for state police should be constitutionally guaranteed and paid directly to state police commissions to prevent political interference and ensure operational effectiveness.
The lawmaker made the call during deliberations on a constitutional amendment bill titled, “A Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to Provide for the Establishment of State Police; and for Related Matters (Sixth Alteration),” on the floor of the Senate.
According to him, direct funding of state police commissions would help avoid challenges similar to those currently associated with local government allocations.
“Funds meant for the State Police Commission must be guaranteed by the Constitution and paid directly to the commission. That way, what we are seeing today with local government funds will not be repeated with the police,” Abaribe said.
He warned that inadequate funding could worsen extortion and other abuses, particularly in regions already burdened by numerous security checkpoints.
“For people like us in the South-East, where you can encounter up to 10 checkpoints within a few kilometres, you may end up seeing hundreds more if state police officers are forced to fend for themselves due to lack of proper funding,” he added.
The senator also revealed that although he was previously opposed to the creation of state police, Nigeria’s worsening security challenges had changed his position.
“I used to be one of those against state police, but today we are faced with serious insecurity challenges that can only be addressed by thinking outside the box,” he stated.
Abaribe further noted that state governments now have significantly more financial resources than in the past, stressing that control of funding often translates into control of operations.
“States today have far more resources than before. We must remember that he who pays the piper dictates the tune,” he said.
His comments come as the National Assembly continues consideration of proposals aimed at decentralising policing and strengthening security across the country.
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