by Happiness Ulumefoh
Governors of Nigeria’s 36 states have submitted position reports on the establishment of state police to the National Economic Council (NEC), indicating their overwhelming support for the move.
Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani, who briefed State House Correspondents after a meeting of the NEC at the Presidential Villa on Thursday, confirmed that the states have submitted their reports, leaving only the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja that has yet to submit.
When the NEC met in November, Adamawa, Kebbi, and Kwara States, as well as the FCT, were yet to submit their reports.
Thursday’s NEC meeting, which lasted for over four hours, was chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima and attended by state governors, deputy governors, ministers and some presidential aides.
Governor Sani said the governors’ overwhelming support for the establishment of state police stemmed from the security challenges bedeviling their states.
The NEC did not, however, proceed immediately with deliberation on the matter, Sani said, adding that deliberation was pushed to January 2025.
“One of the discussions we had at the NEC meeting was the update on the creation of state police. As you are aware, there was a submission by states towards the establishment of state police,” Sani said.
“Virtually every state has its own peculiar security challenges, and many agree that state police is the way forward.
“Today, the council decided to step down the discussion until the next meeting to allow for further deliberation and the presentation of a report from the NEC secretariat,” he said.
The Kaduna State governor highlighted the pressing need for enhanced security measures, citing ungoverned spaces across the country and a significant shortage of personnel in federal security agencies, including the police and armed forces.
“The establishment of state police will help address these gaps, particularly in states grappling with unique security issues,” he said.
Discussions around the creation of state police have been ongoing as it has been touted as a measure that coould address the persistent security challenges bedevilling the country. Many states already have setups in the resemblance of a state police.
The NEC also discussed the issue of flooding and approved the disbursement of more funds to state governments where recent flood disasters had ravaged communities, leading to loss of lives and property.
It also approved 0.05 per cent of non-oil federation revenue as funding for the Revenue Mobilization, Allocation, and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC).
Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo, who announced the resolution after Thursday’s meeting, said the decision followed a report presented by RMAFC on November 21, which highlighted funding challenges faced by the commission.
“RMAFC plays a vital role in ensuring equitable revenue allocation across the federation, but it has been operating under significant financial constraints,” Soludo explained.
The council reviewed RMAFC’s proposal for 0.75 per cent of non-oil revenue but approved 0.05 per cent, subject to further scrutiny by the National Assembly. This allocation is part of broader tax reforms currently under consideration.
In addition to the funding approval, NEC directed RMAFC to submit a draft repeal-and-replace bill to the National Assembly to modernise its governing legislation and align it with the evolving fiscal realities of the country.
Stressing the importance of these measures, Soludo said, “This institution carries critical responsibilities in the functioning of our federation. Adequate funding and an updated legal framework are essential to empower RMAFC to meet its obligations effectively.”
