In a landmark move toward decentralising Nigeria’s security architecture, the Inspector General of Police, Tunji Disu, has submitted a comprehensive 75-page framework to the National Assembly proposing the establishment of state police. The proposal, presented to Deputy Senate President Senator Jibrin Barau, outlines a 60-month phased implementation strategy that would see a fundamental shift in how the nation is secured.
Under the proposed plan, the current policing structure would be bifurcated into a Federal Police Service and 37 State Police Services, including the Federal Capital Territory.
To ensure the financial viability of these new entities, the IGP has recommended a bold funding model: a constitutionally guaranteed State Police Fund drawing 3% of the Federation Account allocation, supplemented by a mandatory 15% contribution from each state’s security budget.
Police sources described this financial restructuring as a “deliberate anti-corruption mechanism” intended to safeguard the independence of state commands.
One senior official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, noted that “inadequate and opaque funding had historically undermined policing efficiency,” and that ring-fenced financing would “eliminate political manipulation and enhance accountability.”
The transition focuses heavily on personnel management, proposing a Voluntary Transfer Programme (VTP) to migrate officers without loss of benefits.
The framework projects that approximately 60% of the existing Nigeria Police Force personnel would move to state services, while 40% would remain within the federal structure to handle national security issues such as terrorism and interstate crime.
“This ensures stability, avoids mass retrenchment, and preserves institutional memory,” a senior officer explained regarding the personnel split.
To mitigate long-standing fears of governors using state police as political tools, the framework introduces several layers of oversight. These include the creation of a 13-member National Police Standards Board to enforce uniform professionalism across the country, the mandatory use of body-worn cameras, and the establishment of independent State Police Ombudsmen.
“The framework is the product of rigorous consultations and reflects both operational realities and international best practices,” a top police source stated, emphasising that the proposed model treats public trust as a “fundamental operational necessity rather than a public relations concern.”
The roadmap begins with constitutional amendments in the first year, specifically shifting policing from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent List, with full consolidation and independent evaluation expected by the fifth year.
As the National Assembly begins its review, the proposal stands as one of the most consequential security reforms in Nigeria’s democratic history. #Securitynewsalert.com
