- Agency Report
A retired Commissioner of Police, Balarabe Sule, has said that the creation of state police will face funding challenges in many states of the federation when it becomes fully operational.
Sule stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Calabar while reacting to Wednesday’s passage of the bill for the creation of state police by the Senate.
While noting that its creation would lead to the reduction in crime and criminality, he expressed doubts about the country’s readiness for it.
He further said that, apart from the issue of funding, the creation of state police would also be prone to corruption, abuse, clash of interest, and lack of uniformity.
According to him, each state of the federation has their own peculiar economic and resource challenges.
“I can very well tell you that many states will not have the resources to equip and pay remuneration for those to be employed to function effectively.
“In addition, there will be no uniformity in the operations of the personnel across the federation. You don’t expect an officer, who is not well paid and equipped to perform optimally.
“This is where corruption will arise. Definitely, when you don’t pay them well and as at when due, they will be exposed to corruption.
Sule said that state police would also be prone to abuse by state governors.
“Again, I also fear that state police will be subject to abuse by governors, who pay them irrespective of the checks and balances,” he emphasised.
Sule explained that state police would reduce the present level of crime and criminality across the country because those to be recruited by their respective states would serve in familiar terrains.
“Recruitment will be done in such a way that only the indigenous people will be posted to their areas.
“In your locality, you practically know everyone and where crimes are likely to be committed.
“Having said this, I believe that Nigeria is not yet ripe for state police simply for the fact that we are not as exposed as the countries where this is practiced.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the executive bill for the creation of state police was passed by the Senate on Wednesday. NAN