#AriseNewsTownhall: Tracking Funds Crucial to Success of State Police, Says Oshiomhole

Senator Adams Oshiomhole has underscored the critical importance of tracking funds allocated for police operations, particularly in the context of Nigeria's impending shift towards state policing. His remarks highlight a pervasive concern regarding accountability and transparency in public finance, arguing that increased funding alone will not resolve security challenges unless resources are judiciously applied and monitored. This call for financial oversight comes as the National Assembly advances constitutional amendments to establish state police, making robust accountability mechanisms indispensable for the success and public trust in the decentralized security architecture.

The discourse surrounding Nigeria's security architecture has intensified, with a significant push towards the establishment of state police. Amidst this crucial national conversation, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, representing Edo North, recently emphasized the indispensable need for citizens to actively track funds designated for police operations. Speaking at an Arise News Townhall, Senator Oshiomhole pointed to the deplorable conditions of police stations and barracks nationwide as stark evidence that past allocations have not consistently translated into tangible improvements, underscoring a deep-seated issue of financial accountability within the existing policing system.

This statement resonates profoundly as Nigeria stands on the cusp of a major security reform. Both the House of Representatives and the Senate have passed constitutional amendment bills aimed at decentralizing policing, a move long advocated for to address escalating insecurity, including banditry, kidnapping, and communal violence. However, the success of this proposed state policing model hinges not merely on its establishment, but critically on the integrity of its funding and the transparency of its financial management. This article posits that effective financial oversight and unwavering transparency are paramount for the viability, public trust, and operational integrity of any proposed state police structure in Nigeria, serving as a bulwark against historical resource mismanagement and potential abuse of power.

Nigeria's policing system has historically been centralized, with Section 214(1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) establishing a single Nigeria Police Force for the entire federation, explicitly prohibiting the creation of any other police force. This centralized structure has faced increasing criticism for its perceived ineffectiveness in addressing localized security threats across a vast and diverse nation. The persistent calls for state policing stem from a recognition that a single federal force struggles with manpower shortages, slow response times, and limited local intelligence, leading to a growing consensus that decentralization is necessary to improve security outcomes.

In response to these challenges, significant legislative progress has been made. Both chambers of the National Assembly have passed constitutional alteration bills to move policing from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent Legislative List, thereby providing the legal framework for states to establish and operate their own police forces. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has actively urged lawmakers to fast-track this constitutional amendment process. Complementing this, Nigeria has existing legal frameworks designed to promote financial accountability and transparency in public sector spending. Key among these are the Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2007, which establishes a framework for prudent management of public finances and empowers the Fiscal Responsibility Commission to compel disclosure of financial information and investigate violations, and the Public Procurement Act, 2007, which mandates transparency, efficiency, and competition in public procurement processes. Furthermore, the Police Act, 2020, itself emphasizes transparency and accountability in the operations and resource management of the police force.

Senator Oshiomhole's intervention critically highlights that merely increasing funding for police operations, whether federal or state, will not yield desired results without stringent accountability mechanisms. He cogently argued that the dilapidated state of police infrastructure, such as barracks, despite substantial past allocations, demonstrates a fundamental flaw in how funds are managed and deployed. "If we don't deal with that, there's no point providing more money," he asserted. He further contended that state governors, as Chief Security Officers, cannot be held truly accountable for security without direct operational control over policing, a gap that state police aims to fill.

The debate over the financial viability of state police is a central concern. Critics often question whether state governments possess the fiscal capacity to adequately fund their own police forces, potentially leading to uneven policing standards across the federation. However, proponents, including Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, argue that recent increases in federal allocations to states make such funding feasible. The National Assembly is actively exploring legislative measures to ensure sustainable financing, including the possibility of mandating a fixed percentage of state budgets for policing and allowing federal grants. This approach seeks to mitigate the risk of fiscal stress and security inequality, which could arise from asymmetric state capacities.

To prevent the potential misuse of state police, the proposed constitutional amendments and enabling legislation are expected to incorporate robust safeguards. These include the establishment of national minimum standards for recruitment, training, equipment, and human rights compliance, as well as independent oversight commissions. Senate Majority Leader Opeyemi Bamidele has cautioned that without a guaranteed, independent funding structure, state police could be susceptible to undue influence from political actors, wealthy individuals, or even criminal elements, thereby compromising their effectiveness and impartiality. This underscores the need for financial autonomy to be legally entrenched, insulating police operations from the whims of state executives.

While existing laws like the Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2007, and the Public Procurement Act, 2007, provide a framework for transparency and accountability, their implementation at the sub-national level has historically presented challenges. The new state policing framework must address these gaps by ensuring that state-level financial management and procurement processes for police forces are not only compliant with federal standards but also subject to rigorous, independent scrutiny. Comparatively, federal systems worldwide, such as those in the United States, Canada, and Germany, often feature coexisting federal and sub-national police structures, with central governments typically retaining regulatory authority to ensure minimum standards and inter-jurisdictional coordination. Nigeria's emerging semi-decentralized model must draw lessons from these systems to establish clear lines of authority, funding, and accountability.

The move towards state policing in Nigeria represents a pivotal moment for national security and federalism. For legal practitioners, this development presents a multifaceted landscape requiring keen attention to constitutional law, public finance, and administrative law. Lawyers will be instrumental in advising state governments on drafting enabling legislation, establishing independent police service commissions, and ensuring compliance with national minimum standards for operational conduct and financial management. The meticulous crafting of contracts, procurement processes, and audit mechanisms for state police forces will be crucial to prevent corruption and ensure value for public money.

Going forward, practitioners should closely monitor the finalization of the constitutional amendment, the specific state laws enacted to establish police forces, and the detailed funding mechanisms that emerge. The effectiveness of oversight bodies, such as State Police Service Commissions, and their independence from executive interference will be key indicators of success. The legal community has a vital role to play in advocating for robust legal safeguards that guarantee financial autonomy, transparency, and accountability within the new state policing framework, thereby fostering public trust and ensuring that the decentralized police forces genuinely serve the security needs of the populace without becoming instruments of political abuse.