The Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) has cautioned that making funding for proposed state police services a first-line charge in the Constitution will not, on its own, guarantee their independence or shield them from political interference by state governors.
In a statement on Friday, the advocacy group said that while financial autonomy remains an important institutional safeguard, Nigeria’s experience has shown that constitutional guarantees alone do not automatically translate into operational independence or accountability.
RULAAC pointed to the judiciary and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as examples of institutions that, despite constitutional funding protections, have continued to face challenges ranging from delayed release of funds to executive interference in administrative processes.
“The judiciary, for instance, enjoys constitutional protection through a first-line charge on the Consolidated Revenue Fund. Yet, judicial officers and institutions have continued to complain about delays in the release of funds, executive control over administrative processes, procurement bottlenecks, and other forms of financial and institutional dependence,” the statement said.
It added that INEC has also, at different times, expressed concerns over delayed or inadequate funding for critical electoral activities.
According to RULAAC, these experiences demonstrate that constitutional funding arrangements, although desirable, are insufficient safeguards against political interference.
The organisation argued that the ongoing debate on state police should extend beyond funding to address critical governance and accountability issues.
Among the questions raised by the group are who would control recruitment, promotions and discipline within state police formations; who would appoint and remove State Commissioners of Police; what protections would exist for officers who refuse unlawful political directives; and what independent oversight mechanisms would investigate complaints against state police personnel.
It also questioned how citizens would obtain effective remedies for abuses, how conflicts between federal and state policing powers would be resolved, and what safeguards would prevent state police from being captured by governors, political parties, wealthy interests, criminal networks or other powerful actors.
“These are issues that cannot be resolved merely by creating a constitutionally guaranteed funding mechanism,” RULAAC stated.
The advocacy organisation further expressed concern over what it described as the lack of broad public engagement on a constitutional reform of such significance.
According to the group, the establishment of state police would fundamentally reshape Nigeria’s security architecture and have far-reaching implications for citizens’ rights and freedoms.
“Such a far-reaching proposal should not be advanced without comprehensive public consultations and transparent legislative scrutiny,” the statement said.
RULAAC called on the National Assembly to publish the full State Police Bill and all proposed constitutional amendments for public review, conduct public hearings across the six geopolitical zones, and allow civil society organisations, security experts, professional bodies, traditional institutions, labour unions and other stakeholders to make meaningful contributions.
The group also urged lawmakers to subject every proposed safeguard to rigorous public examination instead of relying on assurances from political office holders.
In addition, it advised the National Assembly to consider reforms aimed at strengthening community-oriented policing, accountability, operational decentralisation and resource allocation within the Nigeria Police Force before embarking on constitutional restructuring.
“Nigeria needs effective policing that is professional, accountable, rights-respecting, and responsive to local security challenges. Achieving that objective requires more than constitutional guarantees of funding. It demands strong institutions, independent oversight, transparent governance, and broad public confidence,” RULAAC said.
The organisation maintained that Nigerians deserve a transparent, participatory and evidence-based constitutional reform process on the proposed creation of state police, describing the issue as one of national importance.
