• Governors to issue orders to CPs
• We’ll enforce the law, say Police
• Obasanjo, Amosun seek support for officers
• Control by govs recipe for disaster

Nigeria’s Senate is stepping up efforts at saving democracy from executive abuse. It plans to amend the Constitution to decentralise the police force, whittle down the powers of the President over commissioners of police by giving state governors the power of the ‘last command.’

Through a gazetted Senate Bill 346 sponsored by Solomon Olamilekan of the All Progressives’ Congress (APC) from Lagos East Senatorial District, the Upper Legislative Chamber has given full powers to governors to issue unconditional directives to the Police in their states.

A copy of the Bill obtained by The Guardian, specifically deleted the proviso in section 215 (4) of the 1999 Constitution as amended that empowered the President to overrule any orders given to a Police Commissioner by the state governor.

The Bill also seeks to nullify the provision in section 215(5) which had prevented any court from entertaining cases arising from such orders issued by the President to the police.

Greater control of the police by states will douse tension between the presidency and state governments over local policing, bolster efforts at fighting crime and ease governance. Effective policing at that level would also help states build the required infrastructure to create jobs.

There have been loud calls for political restructuring of the country for effective policing at the state and local government levels in response to rising spate of crime, including insurgency, armed robbery and kidnapping. The idea of state police has received increasing support despite Federal Government’s insistence on total control of the force. It was also part of the recommendations of the 2014 National Conference convened by former President Goodluck Jonathan which the current government has refused to implement.

Security experts have however said, without appropriate checks and balances in place, governors’ control of police commissioners in their states would be a “recipe for disaster.”

Managing Director of Beacon Security Consulting, Kabir Adamu, expressed worry that the political situation in Nigeria does not favour the decision, as its implementation would help political and self-serving interest prevail.

He said: “But I think it would be better if one sees the checks and balances the Senate intends to introduce in the new law and to ensure that this very vital institution of law enforcement is not used to serve either political party or self interest. If they do not introduce checks and balances, then it is a recipe for national disaster,” Adamu argued.

Aliu Umar Babangida, who manages the Abuja-based Goldwater &Riversand Consult, a defence and national security firm, agreed with Adamu. “It is necessary but not yet the right time to allow governors exercise control over Commissioners of Police,” he told The Guardian .

The Police force in its reaction said it would simply enforce any law made by the Legislature and signed by the Executive arm of government.

“I can’t comment on political decisions; we are professionals and law enforcers. Whatever law comes into force, we would obey, Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Don Awunah, told The Guardian.

He described the Police as an agency vested with the responsibility of enforcing the law, while the National Assembly makes the laws.

The specific amendment that removed the obstacle on the way of state governors in directing the police commissioners reads: “The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (in this Bill referred to as “the Principal Act”) is altered as set out in this Bill. Section 215 of the Principal Act is altered by deleting the provision to subsection 4.”
The same section 215 is also altered by deleting immediately after the word “shall” in line 3, the word “not” in subsection 5. 3.”

The Bill, when successfully passed by the Senate, will face little hurdle in the state legislatures which are required to endorse any amendment of the constitution by the national legislature before it becomes valued. But with the governors already itching to enjoy powers similar to having a state police, the amendment could have a smooth sail in the 36 Houses of Assembly.

http://guardian.ng/news/senate-cuts-down-presidents-control-of-nigeria-police-force/

Saraki is proving to them he's smarter, where is Tinubu today?

EastGold:
Saraki is proving to them he's smarter, where is Tinubu today?

Wisdom is to know when to talk and when not to

Useless talk ... the sai baba canary song bird has woken up again, even when the dulllard is still snoring away his old lazy life in asorock

Wonder what obasanjo is planning with police, but anyway

ok , NEXT PLEASE

About time

This proposal should definitely come with strong checks and balances to prevent Governors from abusing the law. I'm afraid the governors could essentially turn the state police commands into their own private armies; gubernatorial opponents could be arrested on the flimsy orders of an incumbent governor.

I'd limit the powers of the governor ove the police to convening security meetings with the Commissioner of Police, DCPs and ACPs, and reshuffling police officers to areas where policing is inadequate. The governor shall have NO power to order the arrest of an individual or individuals.

Furthermore, I also believe the appointment of the Inspector General of Police (and Deputy Inspectors General of Police) should be subject to the advice and consent (confirmation) of the Senate. This would ensure that the IGP and the DIG's aren't simply lapdogs of Aso Rock. Senate confirmation should also be required for the appointment of the heads of the Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Prisons Service, Nigeria Immigration Service, DSS, FRSC, NIA, and DIA.

Also, the Commissioners of Police (or DCPs, if the CPs aren't available) should be required to brief members of the state houses of assembly on a quarterly basis, on the general security condition of the respective states.

It's a welcome development. The power to appoint the attorney general just also be taken from the Fed govt. The fact remains that as long as the FG is directly funding all of them, they remain under their control

bigFOOTcaveMAN:
Useless talk ... the sai baba canary song bird has woken up again, even when the dulllard is still snoring away his old lazy life in asorock

And your point is?

CFCman:
This proposal should definitely come with strong checks and balances to prevent Governors from abusing the law. I'm afraid the governors could essentially turn the state police commands into their own private armies; gubernatorial opponents could be arrested on the flimsy orders of an incumbent governor.

I'd limit the powers of the governor to issue orders to the police to convening a security meeting with the Commissioner of Police, DCPs and ACPs, and reshuffling police officers to areas where policing is adequate.

Furthermore, I also believe the appointment of the Inspector General of Police (and Deputy Inspectors General of Police) should be subject to the advice and consent (confirmation) of the Senate. This would ensure that the IGP and the DIG's aren't simply lapdogs of Aso Rock.

Also, the Commissioners of Police (or a DCP, if the CP isn't available) should be required to brief members of the state houses of assembly on a quarterly basis, on the general security condition of the respective states.

Very nice opinion and u couldn't ve even said it better....

It's indeed a recipe for disaster. Our governors are not yet matured enough for the control of the police. They have succeeded in pocketing the State Houses of Assembly and Local government structure, and if you now give them police, they will turn themselves into tin Gods.

They will harass opposition figures endlessly, they will harass non-indigenes, there would be regular altercation with the Federal Police among others.

Well, we can experiment this by first ceding the control of the Civil Defence to the State governments to see how it goes before the main police force.

it is a great idea but it should come with strong checks and balances if not it will be like taking fish from the cat and giving to the rat..i have always found the idea of governors being call cso of the state and collecting security votes without having the corresponding power of giving order to the Cp as utterly ridiculous.

No wonder Buhari refused to appoint youth into his cabinet because they think like animal. is IGP control by so call governors , commisionert of police receive order from IGP not buhari, Please Nigerian youth think like humanbeing for once.

All this knee-jerk amendments are just scratching the surface. The FG has too much unnecessary power and responsibilities. They need to go to the root of the problem and fůckïng let the regions/states work! How do State governors effectively order the police as final authority when the FG recruits and pays their salaries?

If a Governor gives orders which the FG doesn't like what stops recession from suddenly affecting police salaries n allowances? Why won't there suddenly be a flurry of recalls and postings for 'more effective policing'? It is time for the federating units to mature from breastfeeding to actually earnings and paying dues to the 'federal parents' for maintenance! There should be regional police from which specific numbers are uniformly drawn and drafted into a federal police for federal and inter-state offences. These ones will then be paid by the FG. The regions/states ought to do their recruitment according to their size, needs and income and not this federal policing system that is a complete drag.

For those saying Governors will hijack n misuse police, has the FG not been doing the same thing? Is it not any party a president belongs to that enjoys police patronage except Jonathan that to some extent gave free rein to other political parties? So what is so wonderful about 'federal oppression' that cannot be dealt with at regional/state level? There must be provisions in place to address those fears and arrest the hypocrisy/blackmail against regional/state police!

lol. just imagine Wike and Fayose in control of the police! Fayose would slap 3 more judges and Wike would ask for Joseph Mbu to be returned to rivers state.

They go again.

Buhari is using the securities to fight the states.
now they want to cut him off and give power to the governors to abuse.
the end is near.

ddippset:
lol. just imagine Wike and Fayose in control of the police! Fayose would slap 3 more judges and Wike would ask for Joseph Mbu to be returned to rivers state.

For those saying Governors will hijack n misuse police, has the FG not been doing the same thing? Is it not any party a president belongs to that enjoys police patronage except Jonathan that to some extent gave free rein to other political parties? So what is so wonderful about 'federal oppression' that cannot be dealt with at regional/state level? There must be provisions in place to address those fears and arrest the hypocrisy/blackmail against regional/state police!

freeze001:


For those saying Governors will hijack n misuse police, has the FG not been doing the same thing? Is it not any party a president belongs to that enjoys police patronage except Jonathan that to some extent gave free rein to other political parties? So what is so wonderful about 'federal oppression' that cannot be dealt with at regional/state level? There must be provisions in place to address those fears and arrest the hypocrisy/blackmail against regional/state police!

I'd rather the police is not answerable to anyone, not president, not governor. police should be totally independent. being answerable to governors would be as bad if not worse than being answerable to the president because there will be 36 guys who are capable of using the police against rivals as against just one now.

supportnija:
No wonder Buhari refused to appoint youth into his cabinet because they think like animal. is IGP control by so call governors , commisionert of police receive order from IGP not buhari, Please Nigerian youth think like humanbeing for once.

See as you just come Mumu yourself
Maybe the youths in your family thinks like animals,not us sha

ddippset:
I'd rather the police is not answerable to anyone, not president, not governor. police should be totally independent. being answerable to governors would be as bad if not worse than being answerable to the president because there will be 36 guys who are capable of using the police against rivals as against just one now.

Hence the reason for the last line of my post. Provisions ought to be made to eliminate undue influence on the police and Nigeria generally needs to shake the practice of political patronage and servitude.

freeze001:


For those saying Governors will hijack n misuse police, has the FG not been doing the same thing? Is it not any party a president belongs to that enjoys police patronage except Jonathan that to some extent gave free rein to other political parties? So what is so wonderful about 'federal oppression' that cannot be dealt with at regional/state level? There must be provisions in place to address those fears and arrest the hypocrisy/blackmail against regional/state police!

Except who? Are you from Gambia or Liberia? Or you have low and fadeing memory or you decided to ignore the fact that GEJ used the police to intimidate people he didn't agree with. You remember when he used police to attack newspaper editors? Remember when he used dss to attack APC headquarters or when he used CP mbu to fight amaechi or when he gave cover to rivers state house of assembly 5 against 19 others? Or should I continue?

The power in the centre needs to be whittled but it becomes dicey when the FG will still be paying the salaries of the Police Force!

It will be worse if the governors become the alpha and omega of their various state police command is it not better they introduce state police. I beleive the senate is angry with the police over their recent successful candidate list that was release without their prefer candidate scaling through

Ok

Executive abuse was witnessed during the just concluded Rivers elections