The Imperative for State Police: A Framework for Reform

By Dennis Amachree, MON

 The long-standing clamor for State Police in Nigeria has transitioned from a theoretical debate to a policy priority. With the recent resolution by the 36 State Governors and the strategic appointment of an 8-man committee by the Inspector General of Police, Tunji Disu, the nation stands at a crossroads. The goal is clear: to move away from a colonial-era, unitary policing model and toward a decentralized system that reflects Nigeria’s federal reality.

To ensure this transition is successful and to allay fears of political victimization, a rigorous framework of rules and regulations must be established to distinguish State Police from the Federal entity.

1, Distinct Jurisdictional Boundaries

The most critical rule for the new framework is the definition of “Jurisdiction.” Without clear boundaries, conflict between Federal and State officers is inevitable.

• Federal Police (NPF): Should be restricted to “Federal Crimes” including trans-border crimes, terrorism, armed rebellion, diplomatic protection, and inter-state investigations.
• State Police: Should focus exclusively on “State Laws” passed by State Houses of Assembly. This includes local homicides, burglaries, domestic violence, and state-specific traffic and environmental laws.
• The “Hand-off” Rule: Clear protocols must be established for when a case moves from State to Federal jurisdiction (e.g., when a suspect crosses state lines, similar to the FBI model).

2. Legislative and Constitutional Safeguards

The committee must recommend the repeal or amendment of Section 214 of the 1999 Constitution, which currently mandates a single police force.

• State Police Acts: Each state must pass its own legislation, but these must align with a “National Minimum Standard” set by the Federal Government to ensure uniformity in human rights protections.

• The Federal Oversight Body: A revamped Police Service Commission (PSC) or a new National Inter-Agency Council should mediate disputes between federal and state units.

3. Recruitment and Professionalization

To avoid State Police becoming “political thugs” for governors, the recruitment process must be insulated from the Executive arm.

• Merit-Based Entry: Recruitment should be handled by an independent State Police Board comprising retired judges, academics, and civil society members—not political appointees.
• The “University Pipeline”: Following the NSO model of the 1980s, the focus should be on recruiting unemployed graduates who undergo a mandatory 6 to 12-month training program emphasizing community service over coercive force.

4. Operational Distinctions: Uniforms and Equipment

To avoid public confusion, State Police must be visually and operationally distinct:

• Branding: Distinct uniforms, vehicle liveries, and badges unique to each state.
• The SWAT Mandate: Each state should maintain a specialized, highly trained unit for high-stakes crimes (kidnapping, bank robberies), reducing the need to “invite” the military or federal units for local crises.
• Infrastructure: States must invest in their own forensic labs and biometric databases, which should eventually be linked to a central national database for intelligence sharing.

5. The End of “Big Man” Policing

A core regulation for State Police must be the prohibition of personal orderlies for non-statutory figures. * Current practice sees federal officers acting as domestic help for “High Net-Worth Individuals.”

• State Police rules should strictly limit protective details to the Governor, Deputy Governor, and Speaker, as guided by the National Order of Protocol. All other VIP protection should be outsourced to the private security sector.

6. Comparative Roles: Federal vs. State vs. Local

7. Redirecting the Security Vote: From Discretion to Duty

To fully achieve true financial autonomy for State Police, the 8-man committee must address the “elephant in the room”: the Security Vote. Currently, these are opaque, unbudgeted allocations disbursed to governors for discretionary security spending. To build a professional State Police Service, this system must transition from a “slush fund” model to a Statutory Funding Model.

The most immediate source of funding for State Police is the existing Security Vote. Instead of being treated as “personal pocket money” for governors, these funds must be codified into the State Police Trust Fund.

• The Transparency Rule: All funds previously classified as “Security Votes” should be moved into a line-item budget subject to oversight by the State House of Assembly.
• Audit Requirements: Unlike the current system, where security votes are shielded from scrutiny, the State Police budget must be audited annually by the Auditor-General of the State to ensure funds are spent on equipment, salaries, and training—not political patronage.

8. Establishing the State Police Trust Fund (SPTF)

The 8-man committee must address the “funding trap.” If State Police rely solely on the Governor’s whim for fuel and salaries, they will remain tools of the executive.To prevent the State Police from becoming a “beggar agency” at the Governor’s table, the funding must be institutionalized.

• Statutory Deductions: A specific percentage of the State’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and Federal Allocation should be automatically diverted into the SPTF.
• Public-Private Partnerships (PPP): Corporate organizations operating within the state (banks, oil companies, manufacturers) should contribute to this fund in exchange for tax credits, similar to the successful Lagos StateSecurity Trust Fund (LSSTF) model.

• Gradual Rollout: Not all states need to start at once. States like Lagos, which already have the infrastructure (LASTMA, Neighborhood Watch), can serve as the pilot.

9. Comparison: Slush Fund vs. Statutory Funding

10. Expenditure Priorities for Financial Autonomy

Redirected funds should be strictly allocated to the “Three Pillars of Professionalism”:

A. Competitive Remuneration

To prevent the “extortion culture” prevalent in the federal police, State Police officers must be paid a living wage that is significantly higher than the current national average. This should include:

• Comprehensive Health Insurance.
• Housing Allowances (to encourage living within the community rather than in isolated barracks).
• Life Insurance for officers killed in the line of duty.

B. Modern Kit and Technology

Funds must be used to move away from “AK-47 policing.”

• Non-Lethal Gear: Investment in Tasers, pepper spray, and batons to reduce accidental fatalities.
• Mobility: Maintenance of a fleet of patrol vehicles with GPS tracking to ensure they are actually on their beats.

C. Training and Re-training

A portion of the redirected security vote should be permanently earmarked for Continuous Professional Development (CPD). Officers should undergo mandatory human rights and community policing refresher courses every six months.

11. The “Golden Rule” of Autonomy

The framework must state that the Governor cannot unilaterally withhold funds as a means of punishing a State Commissioner of Police who refuses an illegal political order. Once the budget is passed by the House of Assembly, the funds must be released according to a fixed schedule.

Proposed Code of Conduct for State Police Services

A “Code of Conduct” is the soul of any police organization. Without it, you simply have armed men in uniform; with it, you have a professional service. For the 8-man committee to succeed, they must draft a code that transitions the mindset from “Power over the People” to “Service to the Community.”

I. The Principle of “Minimum Force”

Unlike the current federal approach, which often leans on heavy-handedness, State Police must be trained in de-escalation.

• Regulation: Firearms should be the absolute last resort.
• Accountability: Any discharge of a firearm must be followed by a mandatory internal review and a public report within 48 hours.

II. Political Neutrality & Non-Interference

To address the fear that Governors will use the police as a personal “hit squad,” the code must be ironclad on political boundaries.

• Regulation: State Police officers are strictly prohibited from participating in political rallies, escorting party candidates (unless statutorily entitled), or disrupting peaceful opposition gatherings.
• Penalty: Summary dismissal for any officer found executing “orders” that violate the fundamental rights of political opponents.

III. Financial Integrity & Anti-Extortion

Roadblocks for “tax collection” or “settling scores” must be eliminated.

• Regulation: The practice of “Money for Bail” is a criminal offense. Bail is free.
• Body-Worn Cameras: A phased rollout of body cameras for all patrol officers to record interactions with the public.

IV. Jurisdiction and “The Handshake” Protocol

Conflicts between Federal and State officers can turn violent if not regulated.

• The Protocol: If a State officer stops a Federal official for a traffic violation, the Federal official must comply with State law. Conversely, if a State officer stumbles upon a Federal crime (e.g., drug trafficking), they must secure the scene and immediately hand over to the NDLEA or Federal Police.

Proposed Oversight Structure

To make these rules stick, the committee should recommend a Tripartite Oversight System:

 

Technical Infrastructure: The Forensic Gap

For the State Police to be “distinct,” they must be smarter, not just stronger. The committee should mandate the establishment of:

1. State DNA & Fingerprint Registry: To move away from “confession-based” policing to “evidence-based” policing.
2. Inter-Agency Radio Link: A shared frequency between Federal, State, and Local (Sheriff) units to ensure they can call each other for backup during emergencies.

 

The Path Forward

The establishment of State Police is not the end of the journey; it is the beginning of a more complex security architecture. If the 8-man committee focuses on Legislation, Re-orientation, and Funding, Nigeria will move from a “Police Force” that citizens fear to a “Police Service” that citizens trust. The motto should be “To Protect and Serve.”

The establishment of State Police is not merely about “giving governors guns.” It is about bringing the law back to the grassroots. By creating a people-centric service rather than a coercive force, Nigeria can finally fill the “ungoverned spaces” currently occupied by bandits and insurgents. The Tunji Disu-led committee has the historic opportunity to draft a framework that ensures the State Police are friends of the citizen, not the foot soldiers of the politician.