N’assembly working on state police framework with accountability guardrails — Bamidele
Opeyemi Bamidele, senate leader, says the national assembly has begun work on a decentralised police model anchored on accountability.
Bamidele added that the framework is designed to prevent the abuse of policing powers by the political class.
The senate leader shared this in a statement issued on Sunday.
Bamidele, who also serves as vice-chairman of the senate committee on the review of the 1999 constitution, said the legislature is committed to developing a policing model that serves all Nigerians.
He said the proposed framework would devolve policing powers to subnational authorities, with the aim to strengthen security and governance across the federation.
“The parliament is committed to crafting a framework for a decentralised police model that will serve the interests of all regardless of their status,” he said.
The senate leader said the proposed system would include mechanisms to ensure accountability, adding that the framework would discourage the abuse of policing powers.
According to Bamidele, the model would reinforce justice administration and protect fundamental human rights.
“The new police framework under consideration will incorporate accountability mechanisms that will prevent the abuse of power by the political class,” he said.
“It will reinforce justice administration, discourage the culture of impunity and set guardrails for the preservation of fundamental human rights.”
Bamidele said the initiative reflects the shared commitment of the presidency and the national assembly to address insecurity.
He said the decentralised policing model has received support from key stakeholders including President Bola Tinubu who has repeatedly backed the proposal.
He said the president is exploring alternative approaches to address terrorism, extremism, and other security challenges.
“Tinubu has already lent his voice to the creation of a decentralised police model as part of measures to ensure the security of lives, private property and public installations across the federation,” he said.
Bamidele said the national assembly has prioritised the proposal as part of the ongoing constitutional review, noting that the goal is to ensure effective policing even in remote communities.
“The essence of the model is to devolve policing powers to the sub-national authorities with a view to ensuring effective governance even in the remotest part of our land,” he added.
“This is one request that the national assembly has been treating with priority.”
Bamidele also congratulated Tinubu on his 74th birthday, describing the president as a leader who has remained committed to Nigeria’s development.
“He is a man of history, purpose and vision, who rose above barriers to steer the ship of our fatherland out of the turbulent sea,” he said.
“His reforms, though came with initial pains, have now started yielding enviable outcomes that promise a greater Nigeria.”
