By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

A human rights group, under the aegis of Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Center (RULAAC), has called for constitution review, federalism and State Police.

It regretted that Governors were Chief Security Officers of their states only on paper, despite having constitutional backing.

The group therefore for an urgent constitutional review to ensure that the anachronistic provisions in the constitution that inhibits proper practice of federalism was reviewed by the National Assembly in 2022.

RULAAC, in a statement on Thursday, signed by its Executive Director, Okechukwu Nwanguma, observed that in a federal system of government, federating units ought not to be superior to each another.

While saying that the federal government was higher than the other federating units in Nigeria, RULAAC described it as the reason why the President appoints the Inspector General of Police (IGP) as the chief security officer but states cannot appoint Police heads in their domains.

The statement partly reads: “A situation where an elected state Governor cannot give instructions and or directives to the Commissioner of Police in the state without a recourse to the IGP is aberrant to the dictates of federalism.

“It is inconceivable that the IGP and Attorney-General would give orders for Police occupation of a part of a state without consulting with the constitutionally acclaimed chief security officer of the state and such orders would be carried out despite coming from as far as Abuja.

“It is illogical that states have powers to make laws but lack enforcement ability. Rather, enforcements are by federal Police with a centrally controlled structure which only enforces and maintains laws according to their interests and or individuals/authorities that are not part of the state.

“The call for creation of state policing is overdue irrespective of fears of abuse, of which the federal Police is not immune from. State Police has become an urgent and inevitable necessity as the advantages far outweighs the disadvantages.”

The group recalled that a 2012 report by Civil Society Panel on Police Reform addressed some of the fears of likely abuse of Police which stated that

“Government should establish a committee to work out the modalities for the establishment of State police in states desirous of maintaining such, with a view to recommending the framework and measures that should be put in place to address the concerns against state Police.

“State Police should only be established on a basis of strict adherence to the principles of operational autonomy, and be based on sound professional practice in appointment, operations and control.

“There should be defined parameters of cooperation which provide that where a state does not fully cooperate with its counterpart or the Federal Police on any matter, the Federal Police should take over and deal with the matter as is common in other jurisdictions.

“RULAAC maintains that security in a federal system should be decentralised. Crime and policing are both local. Since crime and policing are both local, RULAAC maintains that security in a federal system like Nigeria should be decentralised.”

According to RULAAC, the federal Police have proven incapable of addressing growing security challenges due to its excessively centralised structure.

It described the establishment of vigilante groups since the early ’90s as a clear signal that there was lack of confidence in the ability of the federal Police to secure communities effectively.

The group also urged civil society organisations to team up with the legislature for a robust review of the constitution to facilitate the creation of State Police and enabling bills while not discountenancing inputs from the media.

It added: “Despite the fact that the constitution prohibits establishment of any other Police, state governments have taken liberty to establish agencies that perform policing functions due to unending demand for state police. This clearly shows that state policing is a popular demand.

“RULAAC hereby calls for a review of reports of previous government committees and panels on Police and security sector reforms so as to guide in review of the constitution and relevant laws to suite modern day policing and strengthen federalism to enhance a better democratic practice.

“Note that the recent siege on Magodo Estate by Police operatives further support above view. This should not happen in a proper federal structure.”