State police in Lagos State cannot do their jobs well under federal supervision, according to the state’s assembly speaker, Mudashiru Obasa.
Speaking during Tuesday’s plenary, Obasa emphasised that the reform would be undermined if the constitution maintained federal control over state policing.
He added that the establishment of state police would contribute in the decentralisation of Nigeria’s security architecture and that, to guarantee their effectiveness, the removal of federal supervision was essential.
But he warned that the planned constitutional amendment still centralised significant powers at the federal level and failed to address basic concerns about operational management.
He maintains that states should have complete control over their own security systems if federalism is to be practiced.
In accordance with Section 9(2) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, the Speaker spoke at a formal endorsment by the Lagos State House of Assembly of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Sixth Alteration Bill, 2026. This bill was transmitted to the state assemblies for ratification by the Clerk of the National Assembly.
Though he acknowledged that the amendment was a positive development, Obasa voiced his worry that state assemblies’ interests and viewpoints had been neglected.
Although he expressed happiness over the establishment of state police, he lamented that his group’s interests and positions had been neglected due to the change. If you looked closely, you’d see that the center still has the most control.
If the State Assembly and the National Assembly are at odds with one another, the federal assembly will take precedence, according to a clause. Still, it’s an improvement. Someday, I’d like to think that the state will have complete power.