Olisa Agbakoba, former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), has welcomed President Bola Tinubu’s decision to transmit a bill seeking to establish State Police to the National Assembly, but cautioned that the reform would only succeed if accompanied by constitutional safeguards that insulate law enforcement and other key institutions from executive interference.
In a statement entitled “Beyond State Police: Why Nigeria Must Constitutionally Insulate Its Institutions from Executive Interference,” Agbakoba described the proposed constitutional amendment to Section 214 of the 1999 Constitution as “a welcome development” capable of improving public security and bringing policing closer to local communities.
“I commend the President for transmitting to the National Assembly an executive Bill proposing the amendment of Section 214 of the 1999 Constitution to introduce the long-awaited state police,” he said.
“This is a welcome development that will, if properly implemented, enhance public security and bring law enforcement closer to the communities it serves.”
The senior advocate, however, argued that the proposed reform should trigger broader constitutional restructuring, including the devolution of additional responsibilities from the Federal Government to states and local governments.
