The Leader of the Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, has said the proposed state police system can only succeed if its funding is constitutionally guaranteed as a first-line charge, warning that governors, business interests, criminal syndicates and powerful cabals could manipulate the security outfit if it is financially dependent on state governments.
Bamidele, who also serves as Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, made the position known in a statement issued on Wednesday by his Directorate of Media and Public Affairs.
He acknowledged the widespread concerns Nigerians have expressed over the proposal to establish state police, describing them as legitimate and deserving of careful consideration.
According to him, many of the fears stem from Nigeria’s experience during the First Republic when the 1960 and 1963 Constitutions empowered regional governments to establish police forces, a system that was widely criticised for political interference.
To prevent a repeat of that history, Bamidele said the National Assembly is designing robust constitutional safeguards to guarantee operational independence, financial autonomy and professional discipline within the proposed state police services.
A key aspect of the reform, he disclosed, is to make funding for state police a first-line charge, similar to the constitutional funding arrangement for the judiciary.
He explained that just as the judiciary enjoys financial independence under the Constitution, state police institutions should have direct access to constitutionally guaranteed funds without relying on the discretion of state governors.
“The Commissioner of Police and the State Police Service Commission must have a guaranteed source of funding provided for in the Constitution. They should not be subjected to the whims and caprices of any governor,” he said.
Bamidele warned that allowing governors to determine whether or not to fund state police could undermine the effectiveness and independence of the institution.
“If a state police service refuses to carry out improper directives from a governor, the governor may simply decide to starve it of funds. That is why the Constitution must provide a guaranteed funding mechanism that cannot be manipulated,” he stated.
He added that the National Assembly was considering provisions that would dedicate a specific percentage of every state’s annual budget to the operation of state police services, with clear constitutional guidelines on how such funds would be accessed.
The Senate Leader also cautioned that the danger of abuse goes beyond politicians.
According to him, if state police are poorly funded, wealthy business interests, organised criminal groups and influential cabals could exploit the institution for their own interests.
“Many people focus only on political abuse, but the threat is much wider. If the police are financially weak, business interests, criminal elements and powerful groups can equally hijack the system because, as they say, he who pays the piper dictates the tune,” he said.
Bamidele stressed that the National Assembly remains committed to establishing a state police system that is accountable to the people, professionally managed and adequately insulated from external influence.
He explained that the ongoing constitutional amendment seeks to transfer policing from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent Legislative List, thereby empowering states to establish their own police services alongside the existing federal police structure.
He maintained that all concerns raised by stakeholders would be addressed before the amendment process is concluded, assuring Nigerians that the proposed framework would prioritise accountability, operational efficiency and institutional independence.