The Labour Party (LP) has called on state governments and their Houses of Assembly to support the State Police Bill, describing the proposed legislation as a critical step toward addressing Nigeria’s worsening security challenges.
The party acknowledged concerns about the possible abuse of state police by governors but argued that the country’s security realities make a compelling case for a decentralised policing system. It maintained that the current centralised policing structure has struggled to effectively respond to insecurity across different parts of the country.
According to the Labour Party, the proposed state police framework contains safeguards designed to prevent political interference and ensure accountability. The party urged state assemblies to support the constitutional amendment process and work toward creating policing structures that can respond more quickly to local security threats.
The call comes amid growing national conversations on the need to decentralise policing and strengthen internal security mechanisms. Supporters of the bill argue that state police would improve intelligence gathering and enable faster responses to crimes such as kidnapping, banditry, and communal violence.
However, critics have continued to express concerns that state-controlled police formations could be misused for political purposes. Despite these concerns, the Labour Party insisted that appropriate legal safeguards and oversight mechanisms can address such fears while delivering a more effective security architecture for the country.
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