As part of measures to stem the tide of insecurity ravaging Nigeria, the Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum (PDP-GF) has recommended the decentralisation of the Nigeria Police Force and imperative introduction of the state police in Nigeria. In a communique issued at the end of its virtual meeting, the Forum asked President Muhammadu Buhari to convene a consultative meeting of Nigeria Police Council to appoint an Inspector General of Police either in acting or permanent capacity as envisaged by the 1999 Constitution.
“Nigeria Police Force as an institution is a common services agency for all tiers of government in Nigeria, that is why the Nigeria Police Council is made up of President as Chairman, 36 State Governors, Chairman of Police Service Commission and Inspector General of Police as members. “The Council is the constitutionally designated forum for discussion of security matters in the country, particularly with respect to policing. “It is worthy of note that the newly introduced community policing infrastructure is already being implemented more in breach. The current Nigeria Police Act envisaged that community policing should serve as a decentralised measure of grass roots policing and various roles were assigned to various parties, including the Governors of the states.
Unfortunately, in the Constitution and operationalisation of the community policing activities in the various states so far, partisanship has taken over the recruitment process. We no longer have faith in the neutrality and capacity of the Community Policing system to serve the purposes envisaged under the new police Act, we therefore call on the Police authorities to sanitize the system”.
The PDP Governors Forum further deliberated on the Electoral Act Amendment Bill pending before the National Assembly while urging the National Assembly to expedite action in the passage of the Bill, saying that it is necessary in order to avoid the pitfalls that befell the amendment process in the 8th National Assembly leading to president Buhari not assenting to the bill on the grounds that the amendment came too late in the day.
Those that attended the meeting include Rt. Hon. Aminu Tambuwal – Sokoto State – Governor/Chairman, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu -Abia State – Governor/Vice Chairman, Sen. Bala Mohammed – Bauchi State -Member, Sen. Duoye Diri – Bayelsa State- Member, Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi -Enugu State – Member Gov. Seyi Makinde – Oyo State – Member, Arc Darius Dickson Ishaku – Taraba State -Member, Deputy Governor Benson Abounu -Benue State – Member.
