According to The Guardian, Nigeria’s Senate is stepping up efforts at saving democracy
from executive abuse. According to the report, the Senate plans to amend the
Constitution to decentralise the police force. The proposed amendment is also
intended to whittle down the powers of the President over Commissioners of Police
by giving State Governors the power of the ‘last command.’
Through a gazetted Senate Bill 346
sponsored by Solomon Olamilekan of the All Progressives’ Congress (APC) from
Lagos East Senatorial District, the Upper Legislative Chamber has given full
powers to Governors to issue unconditional directives to the Police in their
states, the Guardian reports.
A copy of the Bill obtained by The
Guardian, specifically deleted the proviso in section 215 (4) of the 1999 Constitution as amended that empowered
the President to overrule any orders given to a Police Commissioner by the State
Governor.
The Bill also seeks to nullify the
provision in section 215(5) which
had prevented any court from entertaining cases arising from such orders issued
by the President to the police.
Greater control of the police by states
will douse tension between the Presidency and State Governments over local
policing, bolster efforts at fighting crime and ease governance. Effective
policing at that level would also help states build the required infrastructure
to create jobs. Furthermore, it will strengthen Nigeria’s federalism and
promote grass root crime fighting.
There have been loud calls for political
restructuring of the country for effective policing at the state and local
government levels in response to rising spate of crime, including insurgency,
armed robbery and kidnapping. The idea of state police has received increasing
support despite Federal Government’s insistence on total control of the force.
It was also part of the recommendations of the 2014 National Conference
convened by former President Goodluck Jonathan which the current government has
refused to implement.
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