The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC)/Transparency International (TI) Nigeria has raised concerns over critical gaps in the recently passed constitutional amendment bill on State Policing. The organisation warned that without stronger safeguards, sustainable funding, and effective accountability mechanisms, the reform could open new avenues for political abuse, weaken public trust, and deepen inequalities in security provision across Nigeria.
In a statement signed by its Executive Director and Head of Transparency International Nigeria, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, CISLAC/TI Nigeria noted that while decentralised policing could improve intelligence gathering, community trust, and local security responses, establishing State Police alone would not resolve Nigeria’s security challenges. It must be supported by comprehensive legal, institutional, financial, and governance reforms.
The organisation stressed that these concerns must be comprehensively addressed before the bill is ratified by State Houses of Assembly and assented to by the President.
One major concern, according to CISLAC/TI Nigeria, is the risk of political interference in the operation of State Police. Without strong constitutional safeguards guaranteeing operational independence and independent oversight, state police formations could be exploited by governors and political actors to suppress opposition, intimidate journalists and civil society, and influence electoral outcomes.
The organisation called for merit-based, transparent, and independently verified recruitment processes, warning that political appointees, partisan loyalists, and thugs must not be integrated into the force if public confidence and professionalism are to be maintained.
CISLAC/TI Nigeria also expressed concern over disparities in financial and institutional capacity among states. Many states already struggle to meet basic obligations such as salaries and pensions. Without sustainable financing and adequate structures, poorer states may end up with under-resourced forces vulnerable to corruption, creating a two-tier policing system.
Beyond funding, the organisation emphasised the need for state governments to demonstrate administrative and technical capacity to manage modern police organisations, including human resource systems, disciplinary mechanisms, intelligence coordination, and adherence to national standards.
It further called for strengthened oversight and accountability provisions, including independent supervision, robust human rights training, effective complaint mechanisms, enforceable sanctions, and clear frameworks for coordination with federal security agencies.
CISLAC/TI Nigeria warned against viewing State Police as an immediate solution to the country’s security crisis, urging the Federal Government to continue strengthening existing institutions during the transition period.
“State policing holds immense potential to enhance local responsiveness to insecurity, but without ironclad safeguards, it risks becoming a new frontier for abuse and fragmentation,” Rafsanjani said.
“We urge the 36 State Houses of Assembly, Governors, and the Presidency to prioritise the public interest by addressing these concerns decisively. True security reform must serve the people, not entrench elite power.”
The organisation called on State Houses of Assembly to conduct thorough public hearings and strengthen the framework during ratification. It advocated for greater independence of State Police Service Commissions, dedicated funding mechanisms, transparent procurement, mandatory audits, and minimum national standards on recruitment, training, operations, welfare, accountability, and human rights.
CISLAC/TI Nigeria also urged the establishment of a multi-stakeholder transitional committee to oversee phased implementation and regular evaluation of the reform.
The organisation reiterated its commitment to constructive engagement with all stakeholders to ensure that State Policing delivers accountable, effective, rights-based, and equitable security for all Nigerians.
