State governors are pushing for stronger constitutional powers over security operations within their respective states, alongside guaranteed funding for the proposed State Police Services, according to a report from a high-level strategic meeting of state Attorneys-General, legal experts and senior security officials organised by the Nigeria Governors’ Forum Secretariat in Abuja.
The document, contained in the NGF bulletin obtained by The Punch, outlines one of the most detailed proposals yet on the creation of state police in Nigeria.
It covers key areas such as operational authority, financing structures, personnel administration, oversight mechanisms, and how federal and state policing institutions would coexist.
The meeting, according to the report, was convened to align positions on the legal and institutional framework required for the establishment of State Police Services nationwide.
Describing the outcome, the report said the discussions marked “a significant milestone in ongoing efforts to strengthen the country’s security architecture through a decentralised policing system that balances local security needs with constitutional safeguards and national cohesion.”
The renewed momentum comes against the backdrop of escalating insecurity in several parts of the country, including terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, communal violence, and other criminal activities that have continued to stretch the capacity of the centrally controlled policing system under the Nigeria Police Force Nigeria Police Force.
A central recommendation from the meeting was the call for expanded constitutional recognition of governors’ roles in coordinating security operations within their states.
The report noted that participants examined legislative provisions currently before lawmakers, especially those dealing with governors’ authority in directing security responses.
“The meeting also reviewed provisions currently under legislative consideration, particularly clauses relating to the authority of governors in directing security operations within their states,” the report stated.
It further added that delegates emphasised “the importance of recognising the constitutional role of governors in coordinating security matters within their states while establishing safeguards for professionalism, accountability and operational independence.”
The proposal is expected to intensify national debate over the long-standing question of whether governors should exercise more direct influence over security, a controversy that has persisted since Nigeria’s return to democratic rule in 1999.
Although governors are often described as chief security officers of their states, operational control of policing remains firmly under federal authority through the Nigeria Police Force Nigeria Police Force.
The latest recommendations arrive as constitutional reform efforts gain traction at the National Assembly. Earlier in the month, the House of Representatives House of Representatives (Nigeria) approved proposals seeking to amend the 1999 Constitution to enable the creation of state police as part of wider security reforms.
Similarly, the Senate Senate of Nigeria has also advanced the bill, passing it for second reading and referring it to its Constitution Review Committee for further scrutiny.
The NGF-backed proposals aim to establish a dual policing structure comprising federal and state police formations, with states empowered to legislate and operate their own security agencies under defined constitutional limits.
The report described the broader initiative as one of the most ambitious reforms in Nigeria’s security history, driven by repeated waves of insecurity across regions, including insurgency in the North-East, banditry in the North-West, militancy in the Niger Delta, communal clashes in the North-Central, and widespread kidnapping incidents.
It also recalled that the idea of state policing has been discussed for decades, gaining significant traction during the 2014 National Conference, which recommended decentralised policing as part of constitutional restructuring.
Over time, support has grown among governors, legal experts, traditional rulers, retired security chiefs, and civil society organisations, who argue that a centrally controlled policing system is increasingly inadequate for Nigeria’s federal structure.
Regional security initiatives such as Amotekun in the South-West and Ebube Agu in parts of the South-East have further strengthened arguments for localized policing arrangements capable of responding more quickly to threats.
However, critics continue to warn that decentralised policing could be vulnerable to political misuse, especially during elections or periods of heightened political tension.
These concerns, according to the report, influenced several safeguards embedded in the proposals, particularly around accountability, oversight, and operational independence.
The framework promotes what it describes as a cooperative federalism model, in which both federal and state police structures operate within clearly defined jurisdictions.
Under this arrangement, the federal police would retain responsibility for national-level crimes.
“The Federal Police Service would retain exclusive responsibility for offences of national significance, including terrorism, treason, narcotics-related crimes and interstate criminal activities.”
At the same time, state police formations would focus on offences within their respective jurisdictions.
“State Police Services would be empowered to prevent, investigate and support the prosecution of offences within their constitutionally assigned jurisdiction, particularly offences created under state laws.”
The proposal also considers restructuring existing policing assets to support the new system.
“The framework considers mechanisms for the transfer or restructuring of certain existing policing assets, commands and facilities to support State Police.”
Governance and accountability formed another key pillar of the discussions, with participants stressing the need for strong oversight systems.
“The report noted that ‘participants extensively debated governance and oversight mechanisms required to ensure accountability within the proposed policing structure.”
One proposal includes rotating representation of State Attorneys-General on the National Police Council to improve state participation in national policing decisions.
Funding was identified as a critical component of the reform, with participants warning that inadequate financing could undermine the effectiveness of state police structures.
The report emphasised “the need for clear constitutional provisions guaranteeing sustainable financial support for state policing structures.”
It also noted concerns about sustainability, stating the importance of “predictable and sustainable funding mechanisms to prevent security financing from becoming discretionary and highlighted the importance of adequate resources for personnel training, equipment and operational effectiveness.”
To address funding challenges, stakeholders explored hybrid financing models, including federal transitional support and the creation of State Security Trust Funds to encourage private sector participation.
Personnel transition arrangements were also discussed, with provisions allowing willing officers of the Nigeria Police Force Nigeria Police Force to move into state police services.
According to the report, “The proposed framework includes provisions allowing eligible federal police personnel to voluntarily transition into State Police Services, subject to agreed legal, administrative and welfare arrangements, without losing their rank, seniority or pension benefits.”
It further recommended that such arrangements be time-bound to ensure smooth implementation and workforce planning.
The framework also allows flexibility for states that may not be ready to immediately establish their own police institutions, enabling the federal system to continue managing policing duties temporarily.
The NGF-led recommendations are expected to feed into ongoing constitutional amendment processes and could significantly shape Nigeria’s future policing structure if eventually adopted.
