The Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), DIG Hashimu Salihu Argungu (rtd), has called for a fundamental “diagnosis” of the nation’s security architecture, urging federal authorities to address the root failures that have fueled the demand for state-controlled policing.
Speaking at the PSC headquarters, Argungu addressed the Committee for the Implementation of State Police during a high-level consultative visit. He cautioned that for state police to succeed, the nation must first understand the structural “wrongs” of the current system.
The visiting committee, led by Chairman Professor Olu Ogunsakin, sought the PSC’s institutional expertise to navigate what Ogunsakin described as a “monumental” task. Professor Ogunsakin stated that the committee cannot succeed alone without tapping into the wisdom of the PSC, describing Argungu as a “fountain of knowledge” essential to reviewing the landscape and foundation of the Nigeria Police Force.
In a detailed presentation, DIG Argungu outlined a step-by-step procedure for the committee. He emphasised the need for a deep investigation into the specific systemic failures that necessitated the shift toward state policing. Furthermore, he highlighted the importance of legal harmonisation, examining the connection between federal and state offences while updating obsolete laws to meet 21st-century standards. Argungu also recommended global benchmarking, suggesting the committee study successful international state police models to adapt best practices while avoiding documented pitfalls.
Argungu further advised the committee to prioritise quality over speed, urging them to request additional time from the government if necessary to ensure a thorough and effective final framework.
The implementation committee is currently tasked with designing a comprehensive operational framework that includes the establishment of national training and recruitment benchmarks. This mandate also involves defining the relationship between state structures and federal oversight, as well as determining how the new entities will be funded and equipped.
The meeting was attended by key PSC Board members, including Hon. Justice Paul Adamu Galumje (rtd), DIG Taiwo Lakanu (rtd), and Commission Secretary Chief Onyemuche Nnamani. As the debate over decentralising the police force intensifies, Argungu’s roadmap signals a move toward a more cerebral, data-driven approach to one of Nigeria’s most significant constitutional shifts. #Securitynewsalert.com
