The Jigawa State House of Assembly has endorsed the proposed establishment of state police, describing the initiative as a necessary step towards addressing security challenges and creating employment opportunities for indigenes
The Speaker of the House, Rt Hon. Haruna Aliyu Dangyatin, disclosed this on Tuesday while briefing journalists after the lawmakers endorsed the constitutional amendment bill transmitted by the National Assembly for the establishment of state police.
Dangyatin said the proposed security arrangement was not intended to target political opponents or provide any government with an instrument for settling political scores
He maintained that the primary objective of establishing state police was to strengthen the country’s security architecture and improve the protection of lives and property amid growing public concerns over insecurity
“People are complaining about the current security situation in the country; therefore, the creation of state police will help in improving security,” the Speaker said
He stressed that security was a collective responsibility that required cooperation among the federal and state governments, security agencies and other relevant stakeholders
According to him, the establishment of state police would provide an additional opportunity to address security concerns at the grassroots level, while complementing the existing efforts of federal security agencies
The Speaker said the proposed arrangement was not designed to undermine any political party or victimise members of the opposition, but to improve public safety and strengthen the capacity of governments to respond to security threats
He added that the constitutional amendment bill would also provide an avenue for employment, particularly for qualified indigenes who could be recruited into the proposed state police structure
Dangyatin explained that a State Police Commission would be established to coordinate the affairs of the new security outfit, including recruitment and other administrative responsibilities
He said the commission would play an important role in ensuring that the proposed institution operated within the framework established by the constitutional amendment
The Speaker further noted that state assemblies across the country had expressed support for the bill because of its potential to improve security at both state and national levels
He said the endorsement reflected the importance lawmakers attached to exploring additional approaches to tackling insecurity and strengthening the country’s security system
On funding, Dangyatin assured that the Jigawa State Government would provide adequate financial support to enable the proposed state police to discharge its responsibilities effectively, in line with the provisions of the constitutional amendment bill
He emphasised that the success of the initiative would depend not only on its establishment but also on adequate funding, effective coordination and cooperation among the different levels of government
The proposed establishment of state police has remained a major issue in Nigeria’s security debate, with supporters arguing that decentralising policing could improve local intelligence gathering and enable security personnel to respond more quickly to threats
However, concerns have also been raised over the possibility of political interference, abuse of power and inadequate safeguards in the recruitment and deployment of personnel
The Jigawa Assembly’s endorsement comes amid continuing discussions on constitutional reforms aimed at determining the legal framework, operational responsibilities and oversight mechanisms for the proposed state police system