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The Leader of the Senate, Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, has assured Nigerians that the National Assembly will introduce constitutional and legal safeguards to prevent the abuse of the proposed State Police by serving governors.
Speaking with State House correspondents on Tuesday after accompanying Biodun Oyebanji to present his Certificate of Return to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Bamidele said lawmakers were mindful of public concerns over the establishment of State Police.
He acknowledged that fears of governors using State Police for political purposes were legitimate but stressed that such concerns were being addressed through the ongoing constitutional amendment process.
According to him, the proposed constitutional amendments will include provisions aimed at preventing or significantly reducing the possibility of abuse by state governments.
The Senate Leader noted that while not every operational detail could be captured in the Constitution, additional safeguards would be incorporated into amendments to the Police Act after the constitutional review is concluded.
He explained that the Police Act would spell out operational guidelines and other measures necessary to ensure accountability and prevent misuse of State Police.
Bamidele also argued that the existing federal policing structure is not immune to abuse, noting that desperate politicians could still influence the deployment of federal police personnel.
He expressed optimism that the bill would receive speedy approval from state Houses of Assembly, saying most governors support the establishment of State Police.
Describing State Police as a necessity rather than a political project, the Senate Leader said the growing security challenges across the country have made the initiative imperative and that broad national consensus now exists on its adoption.
