By Monsurat Abisoye
Senate President Godswill Akpabio has urged Nigerian governors to guard against abusing state police powers when the proposed security structure is eventually established.
Akpabio gave the warning during Tuesday’s plenary session as the National Assembly moved closer to approving state police as part of efforts to address the country’s security challenges.
His remarks came shortly after President Bola Tinubu transmitted a Constitution Alteration Bill to the National Assembly seeking the creation of state police. The Senate has scheduled consideration and passage of the bill for Wednesday.
Speaking on the proposal, Akpabio stressed the need for safeguards to prevent abuse, noting that public office holders, including governors, would eventually leave office and could one day be subject to the same system they helped create.
He said Nigeria had lacked the courage to decentralise its police structure since independence in 1960, describing the current effort as a historic step. According to him, the implementation process will be carried out in two stages: a constitutional amendment to establish state police and a separate Act of Parliament to outline operational guidelines and prevent misuse.
Akpabio maintained that the additional legislation would provide the necessary framework and modalities to ensure accountability and protect against potential abuses of state police powers.
