The National Conference on Thursday approved a recommendation
for the creation of state police to complement duties of the Nigeria
Police Force in the country.
The approval was given during the adoption of report of the
Committee on National Security in Abuja.
The conference adopted the retention of one Federal Police Force
that is decentralised to involve participation by states, local
governments and communities.
Following the adoption, however, some delegates raised concern on
the possibility of harmonious co-existence of both federal and state
police, considering that their duties might overlap.
They raised concern on the appropriate title for commissioners of
police in charge of state police and federal police as well as
modalities for posting commissioners under the federal system to
states.
A voice vote was later taken and delegates voted against seeking
the consent of a state governor before the posting of a federal
police commissioner to any state.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that they equally voted
against state governors being involved in the running of police
commands in their states.
Thereafter, the conference adopted funding of state police by state
government and abolishment of monetisation of a special
protection unit of the Nigeria Police Force, which seemed to
privatise security.
In the same vein, a compulsory life insurance for all armed security
personnel, including the police, by government was approved.
The conference, however, voted against the proposal to merge the
Road Safety Commission (FRSC) and the National Security and Civil
Defence Corps (NSCDC) with the Nigeria Police.
The conference also rejected the call to suspended recruitment of
constables for a given period of time within which police training
institutions would be upgraded and brought to international
standard.
The conference further turned down the proposal for the police to
be brought under the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
The proposal for the establishment of a police complaint authority
and call for women to be given 50 per cent participation in all the
security forces were also turned down. (NAN)


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