The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC)/Transparency International (TI) Nigeria has raised serious concerns over the recently passed constitutional amendment bill on State Policing, warning that without stronger safeguards, sustainable funding, and robust accountability mechanisms, the reform could expose the country to political abuse, weaken public confidence, and widen inequalities in security provision.
Potential Benefits and Risks of State Policing
In a statement signed by its Executive Director, Comrade Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, CISLAC acknowledged that decentralised policing could improve intelligence gathering, strengthen community trust, and enhance responses to local security challenges. However, it stressed that establishing state police alone would not address Nigeria’s security challenges without comprehensive legal, institutional, financial, and governance reforms.
The organisation insisted that these concerns must be fully addressed before the bill is ratified by the 36 State Houses of Assembly and assented to by the President.
Political Interference and Recruitment Concerns
One of the major concerns is the potential for political interference. CISLAC warned that without constitutional guarantees for operational independence and independent oversight, state police formations could be manipulated by governors and political actors to suppress opposition, intimidate journalists and civil society organisations, silence critics, and influence electoral outcomes.
The organisation also called for transparent, merit-based, and independently verified recruitment processes. It cautioned against the inclusion of political appointees, partisan loyalists, political thugs, and other politically exposed persons in state police formations, warning that such practices would undermine professionalism and public confidence.
Financial Disparities and Capacity Gaps
CISLAC expressed concern over financial and institutional disparities among states, noting that several state governments already struggle to meet basic obligations, including salary and pension payments. Without sustainable financing and adequate administrative capacity, poorer states may be unable to recruit, train, equip, and retain professional personnel, resulting in a two-tier policing system where only wealthier states enjoy effective security services.
Beyond funding, the organisation said state governments must possess the technical and administrative capacity to manage modern police organisations through effective human resource management, disciplinary systems, intelligence coordination, and adherence to national professional standards.
Oversight and Accountability Weaknesses
The organisation argued that the bill’s existing oversight and accountability provisions require significant strengthening. It called for independent supervision, transparent recruitment, comprehensive human rights training, effective complaint and disciplinary mechanisms, enforceable sanctions for misconduct, and clear intelligence-sharing frameworks between state police formations and federal security agencies.
CISLAC further maintained that state police should be equipped to respond to emerging security threats through investments in forensic investigations, cybercrime capabilities, digital intelligence, surveillance technology, specialised response units, continuous professional training, and stronger community engagement.
Transition and Implementation Recommendations
While recognising the potential benefits, CISLAC warned against viewing the reform as an immediate solution to Nigeria’s security crisis, noting that it would take time for new police formations to become fully operational. It urged the Federal Government to continue strengthening existing security institutions through improved intelligence sharing, enhanced community policing, better welfare for security personnel, increased investment in technology-driven policing, and stronger accountability measures during the transition.
Rafsanjani emphasised: “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.”
Call for Public Hearings and Minimum Standards
CISLAC called on state legislatures to conduct extensive public hearings and strengthen the proposed framework during the ratification process. It recommended greater independence for State Police Service Commissions, protected funding mechanisms, transparent procurement procedures, mandatory independent audits, and the adoption of minimum national standards covering recruitment, training, operations, welfare, accountability, transparency, and human rights compliance.
The organisation also urged the Federal Government and the National Assembly to establish a multi-stakeholder transitional committee to oversee phased implementation, monitor compliance, and regularly evaluate the reform to ensure professionalism and consistency across the country.
CISLAC/TI Nigeria reaffirmed its commitment to engaging with the National Assembly, state legislatures, executive authorities, civil society organisations, traditional institutions, labour unions, the media, and the private sector to ensure that any state policing framework delivers accountable, transparent, rights-based, citizen-centred, and equitable security for all Nigerians.
