The Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria (SCSN) has urged the Federal Government and the 10th National Assembly not to rush the proposed establishment of state police, warning that wider national consultations must take place before any constitutional amendment is approved.
In a statement issued by its Secretary-General, Nafi’u Ahmad, the Council acknowledged that Nigeria’s worsening insecurity requires urgent action but argued that state police should not be seen as a quick solution to the country’s security challenges.
According to the Council, the current security crisis is largely driven by poor funding, corruption, inadequate manpower, weak intelligence gathering, obsolete equipment and poor coordination among security agencies.
The SCSN said the immediate priority should be to reform and strengthen existing security institutions rather than simply transferring policing powers to state governments.
The council also criticised what it described as the apparent haste in the constitutional amendment process, insisting that such a major reform should only proceed after extensive nationwide consultations, transparent public hearings and broad consensus among stakeholders. It warned that, without strong constitutional safeguards, state police could be misused by state governments for political intimidation, discrimination and the suppression of opponents.
The council therefore called for independent oversight bodies, merit-based recruitment, professional training, judicial and legislative oversight, sustainable funding and clear constitutional protections against abuse before any state police system is introduced. It urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the 10th National Assembly, state governments and other stakeholders to address public concerns before making any final decision on the proposed reform.
The debate over state police has intensified in recent months, with supporters arguing it would improve the fight against banditry, kidnapping and terrorism, while critics fear it could be abused for political purposes if proper safeguards are not in place.
