Lawyer Warns Against Governors Controlling State Police

Aina Craig, a lawyer representing the Abuja chapter of the Nigerian Bar Association, has issued a warning regarding the potential dangers of allowing governors to control state police forces. In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday, she stated that vesting operational control and appointment powers in governors could turn security outfits into tools for political harassment against opponents.

Craig emphasized that the current framework considered by the National Assembly contains structural flaws that could lead to chaos if governors are empowered to appoint personnel for security apparatuses. She urged President Bola Tinubu and the National Assembly to look beyond political interests and ensure the full independence of new security forces.

Craig proposed the creation of an independent state police service commission responsible for recruitment, promotion, and discipline, effectively removing political influence from the management process. She also stressed the importance of direct independent funding from federal accounts to prevent governors from manipulating security forces financially.