Senate Leader Advocates First-Line Charge for State Police

Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele stated that establishing a first-line charge for state police funding would protect the police from interference by state governors. He emphasized the importance of financial autonomy to prevent political manipulation and ensure the integrity of the new police structure.

Bamidele, who serves as the Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee reviewing the 1999 Constitution, warned that without constitutional guarantees for funding, state police could become vulnerable to undue influence from governors and other powerful interests. He compared the proposed funding mechanism to the financial arrangements already guaranteed for the judiciary, which enjoys statutory allocations directly from consolidated revenue.

Bamidele assured that the constitutional amendment process would create a state police system accountable to the people, addressing genuine concerns raised by stakeholders. He also mentioned the historical context of policing in Nigeria and the need for a robust constitutional framework to safeguard the proposed state police system.