President can take over abused state police services — Barau

Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin, has said the proposed State Police Establishment Bill empowers the President to take over the operations of any state police service that is abused or operates in a manner that threatens national security or the sovereignty of the federation.

Barau, who spoke on the ongoing constitutional amendment process, said the provision is one of several safeguards built into the bill to allay fears that state governors could use state police formations to harass political opponents or violate citizens’ rights.

“If a state police service derails, compromises national sovereignty or acts in a manner inimical to the Federation, the President has the constitutional power to invoke the relevant provisions and authorise the Federal Police to immediately take over its operations,” he said.

The Deputy Senate President explained that the proposed legislation also prevents governors from exercising absolute control over state police by requiring that the appointment of a State Police Commander be based on the recommendation of the National Police Council.

According to him, the council, comprising the President, state governors, the Inspector-General of Police and retired senior police officers, is designed to guarantee professionalism and institutional oversight.

Barau said the National Assembly and the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu are working closely to enact the bill as part of broader efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture and respond to growing calls for decentralised policing.

He added that extensive public hearings were conducted across the country’s geopolitical zones to accommodate the views of state governments, civil society organisations and other stakeholders before the bill advanced in the National Assembly.

Expressing optimism about the legislation, Barau said there is strong political will to see the bill passed, describing state policing as a critical reform that would improve local intelligence gathering while preserving constitutional checks against abuse.