Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, says the 10th National Assembly is working out a funding framework for the proposed state police, assuring Nigerians that financing will not hinder its establishment.
Kalu gave the assurance yesterday, while briefing newsmen in Abuja after returning from a week-long engagement at Chatham House and the ‘London Climate Action Week’ in the United Kingdom.
His comments come amid concerns over the financial capacity of states to sustain separate police formations if the proposed constitutional amendment establishing state police is passed.
Addressing the funding concerns, Kalu said lawmakers were already developing mechanisms to ensure the policing system is financially sustainable. “We are looking at how to make sure that funding will not be a problem with regard to state policing because, as you know, it is like taking some of the responsibility of the Federal Government for the states to handle”, he said.
The Deputy Speaker argued that the President Bola Tinubu-led government’s fiscal policy had significantly increased allocations to state governments, creating room for them to assume additional responsibilities. “It is important to note that this current administration, which believes in federalism, has released more money to the states than ever before. So it wouldn’t be out of place if Mr President says: ‘I’m already sending the states a lot of money. Part of it should be used for this’ ”, he said
He added that the National Assembly was considering other funding options to guarantee the long-term viability of state police. “As a parliament, we are looking at where we can get one or two things that will help funding not to become an issue. We’ll figure it out in the coming days”, he added.
Kalu disclosed that despite the National Assembly being on recess, lawmakers were continuing consultations to strengthen the legislative framework for the proposed policing system. “In fact, that’s one of the reasons some of us are not on holiday. Even though we are on recess, we are here cracking our heads to see how we can put the bricks properly and build the wall of that legislative enactment in a way that it will be solid enough to carry the load that is going to be on it”, he said.
Responding to concerns that governors could deploy state police to intimidate political opponents, Kalu acknowledged the fears but said the proposed constitutional amendment had been designed with safeguards to prevent abuse. According to him, the draft legislation clearly defines the powers, duties and responsibilities of state police while prescribing national minimum standards that every state police service must meet.
“They can increase the standard for the state, but they cannot go below the national minimum standard”, he said, adding that state police would not be allowed to engage in partisan or politically-motivated activities.
He further disclosed that once the Constitutional amendment is passed, the National Assembly would move to repeal and re-enact the Police Act to provide a comprehensive legal framework for the operation of state police.
