Senate recommends decentralization of Police

The Nigerian senate is now seeking the decentralization of the Nigeria Police Force and the introduction of community policing as a way of checking insecurity in the country. 

This was confirmed in a statement released by the Senate Spokesman, Senator Ajibola Basiru (Osun Central). Commenting on the "decentralization" move which was part of the recommendations of the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on Nigeria Security Challenges which was considered and approved during plenary on Tuesday May 5, the senate spokesperson said the Federal Government has been asked to restructure the police with the zonal commands having operational and budgetary powers. 

Basiru also said the FG has been asked to set up Zonal Security Advisory Committees at each Zonal Command for advise on the security challenges in the zone. 

The proposed Zonal Advisory Council is to have Governors in the Zone; Zonal AIG of Police; State Commissioners of Police in the Zone; State Directors of the Department of State Security Service; Zonal Immigration Officers; Zonal Customs Officers; and Representative of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps in the Zone as members. 

Others members of the council include  Representative of the Nigeria Correctional Service in the Zone; Chairmen of State Traditional Rulers Council in the Zone; Faith-based Leaders in the Zone; Civil Society Representatives in the Zone; Representative of Senators from the Zone; Representative of Members of House of Representatives from the Zone; Representatives of Business Community and Labour in the Zone; and any Person or persons deemed to be useful and relevant, taking into account the socio-cultural peculiarities of the zone.

Expansion of the State Security Council and constitution of Area Command, Local Government and Ward Level Advisory Councils was also recommended by the upper chamber who urged state assemblies to make necessary laws to legalize community policing and its establishment at the Local Government level. 

State Governors were also asked to fund community policing from grants appropriated to each Local Government.

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