Odinkalu Critiques State Police Bill Without Citizen Input

Chidi Odinkalu, the former chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), expressed concerns regarding the establishment of state police in Nigeria, particularly during an election period, without adequate citizen participation. He highlighted that there are currently two different versions of the state police bill pending in the National Assembly, which have not included citizen input or debate.

Odinkalu pointed out that the process lacks transparency, as citizens have not been involved in discussions about the bill. He also distinguished between the roles of security agencies, stating that the duties of the police and the Department of State Services (DSS) differ significantly.

Furthermore, he criticized the funding mechanisms for the police, suggesting that governors do not adequately support their state police forces and that the Ministry of Justice has not effectively allocated resources to ensure proper law enforcement. Odinkalu's remarks underscore the importance of citizen engagement in legislative processes, especially concerning security laws.