Still On State Police and Fear of Governors’ Abuse -By Tochukwu Jimo Obi

The debate over the creation of state police in Nigeria has continued to generate intense public discussion. While many Nigerians believe that decentralising policing will improve security and enable quicker responses to local crimes, others remain worried that state police could become instruments of political oppression in the hands of state governors. These concerns are genuine and should not be dismissed. However, rather than abandoning the idea of state police altogether, Nigeria should focus on building strong constitutional and legal safeguards that prevent abuse while allowing the country to enjoy the benefits of community based policing.

The greatest fear expressed by critics is that governors could deploy state police to harass political opponents, intimidate critics, manipulate elections, or suppress lawful dissent. Nigeria’s political history provides enough reasons for such apprehension. Yet, it is equally true that institutions, not individuals, determine whether power is abused. A carefully designed legal framework can ensure that no governor exercises unchecked authority over a state police force.

A critical safeguard would be the establishment of an Independent State Police Service Commission in every state. Such a commission must be constitutionally protected from political interference and should comprise representatives of the judiciary, the Nigerian Bar Association, civil society organisations, traditional institutions, and experienced security professionals. Most importantly, the commission, rather than the governor, should be solely responsible for appointing the State Police Commissioner, recruiting officers, overseeing promotions, enforcing discipline, and dismissing personnel. This arrangement would significantly reduce the possibility of governors filling the police with political loyalists.

The Independent State Police Service Commission should also possess strong oversight and disciplinary powers. It must be empowered to investigate complaints against officers, sanction misconduct, and where a state police force is being used unlawfully, recommend federal intervention. Such powers would create institutional checks capable of addressing abuse before it threatens democratic governance or public confidence in law enforcement.

Equally important is the need to clearly define the governor’s role in state policing. Governors, as Chief Security Officers of their states, may legitimately set broad security priorities and policy directions. However, they should have no authority to issue operational instructions in individual investigations, arrests, or prosecutions. Day to day policing decisions must remain strictly within the professional discretion of the Police Commissioner and senior officers, thereby insulating law enforcement from partisan political pressure.

The State House of Assembly must equally serve as a strong democratic watchdog. It should possess robust oversight powers to investigate allegations of abuse, summon police leadership for questioning, and scrutinise police budgets and expenditure. Furthermore, the appointment of a State Police Commissioner should require legislative confirmation, while removal from office should only be possible through the recommendation of at least two thirds of the members of the State House of Assembly, with the concurrence of the Independent State Police Service Commission. Such multiple layers of approval would make arbitrary dismissal virtually impossible.

Beyond state institutions, there should be federal constitutional oversight to preserve uniform national standards. Whether through an expanded Nigeria Police Council or a newly established National State Police Oversight Commission, the Federal Government should retain responsibility for setting nationwide policing standards, monitoring compliance with constitutional principles, and intervening where fundamental rights are persistently violated. This would ensure that every state police force operates within the same democratic and professional framework across the federation.

Strong legal protections against political misuse must also be expressly written into the Constitution and any enabling legislation establishing state police. The law should clearly prohibit the deployment of state police for political purposes or against political opponents of governors. In addition, every state should establish an independent Police Complaints Authority where citizens can report misconduct without fear of intimidation. Fast track courts should promptly hear cases involving alleged abuse of state police, particularly during election periods, while the Complaints Authority should publish regular reports detailing complaints received, investigations conducted, and disciplinary actions taken to strengthen transparency and public confidence.

Ultimately, the success or failure of state police will depend less on the concept itself than on the strength of the institutions that regulate it. If properly designed, these safeguards would strike the right balance between giving states greater control over local security and preventing governors from converting the police into political weapons. The overriding democratic principle must remain that no single political office holder should exercise unchecked control over law enforcement. Instead, authority should be shared among independent commissions, the legislature, the judiciary, federal oversight institutions, and the public, thereby preserving professionalism, protecting citizens’ rights, and strengthening Nigeria’s democracy.

Tochukwu Jimo Obi, Obosi Anambra state.