CISLAC Demands Stronger Accountability in State Police Bill

The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC)/Transparency International (TI) Nigeria has called for stronger accountability measures in the proposed State Police Bill, warning that weak oversight could expose the new policing system to political manipulation and abuse.

The organisation said the constitutional amendment introducing state policing should be strengthened with robust legal, institutional and financial safeguards before it is ratified by state legislatures and signed into law by the President.

The position was contained in a statement issued on Friday by the Executive Director of CISLAC and Head of Transparency International Nigeria, Comrade Auwal Musa Rafsanjani.

While acknowledging that decentralised policing could improve intelligence gathering, community trust and responses to local security threats, CISLAC maintained that establishing state police alone would not solve Nigeria’s security challenges without broader governance reforms.

The organisation warned that one of the greatest risks associated with the proposed framework is political interference in the operations of state police formations.

According to CISLAC, the absence of constitutional guarantees for operational independence and independent oversight could allow governors and political actors to use state police to intimidate opposition figures, journalists, civil society organisations and critics, as well as influence electoral outcomes.

It also stressed the need for transparent, merit-based and independently verified recruitment processes, cautioning against the inclusion of political appointees, partisan loyalists, political thugs and other politically exposed persons in the proposed police formations.

The organisation further expressed concern over the financial and institutional disparities among states, noting that many state governments already struggle to meet basic obligations, including the payment of salaries and pensions.

It warned that inadequate funding could leave some states unable to recruit, train, equip and retain professional personnel, creating a two-tier policing system where wealthier states enjoy effective security while poorer states contend with underfunded and ineffective police formations vulnerable to corruption.

CISLAC also said state governments must possess the administrative and technical capacity to manage modern police organisations through efficient human resource systems, disciplinary mechanisms, intelligence coordination and adherence to national professional standards.

The group argued that the existing accountability provisions require significant improvement through stronger independent oversight, transparent recruitment procedures, effective complaint and disciplinary mechanisms, mandatory human rights training and enforceable sanctions for abuse.

It also called for clear operational frameworks to enhance intelligence sharing and coordination between state police formations and federal security agencies.

Beyond conventional policing, the organisation said state police should be equipped to address emerging security threats through investments in forensic investigations, cybercrime detection, digital intelligence, surveillance technology, specialised response units, continuous professional development and community engagement.

CISLAC cautioned against viewing state policing as an immediate solution to Nigeria’s security crisis, noting that the transition would require time before the new formations become fully operational.

It therefore urged the Federal Government to continue strengthening existing security institutions through improved intelligence sharing, enhanced community policing, better welfare for security personnel, greater investment in technology-driven policing and stronger accountability throughout the transition period.

“State policing holds immense potential to enhance local responsiveness to insecurity, but without ironclad safeguards, it risks becoming a new frontier for abuse and fragmentation,” Rafsanjani said.

“We urge the 36 State Houses of Assembly, governors and the Presidency to prioritise the public interest by addressing these concerns decisively. True security reform must serve the people, not entrench elite power,” he added.

The organisation called on State Houses of Assembly to conduct thorough public hearings and strengthen the proposed framework during the ratification process.

It advocated greater independence for State Police Service Commissions, dedicated funding mechanisms protected from political interference, transparent procurement processes, mandatory independent audits and minimum national standards governing recruitment, training, operations, welfare, accountability, transparency and human rights compliance.

CISLAC also urged the Federal Government and the National Assembly to establish a multi-stakeholder transitional committee to oversee the phased implementation of state policing, monitor compliance and regularly evaluate the impact of the reform.

The organisation reaffirmed its commitment to engaging the National Assembly, state legislatures, executive authorities, civil society organisations, traditional institutions, labour unions, the media and the private sector to ensure that any state policing framework delivers accountable, transparent, rights-based, citizen-centred and equitable security for all Nigerians.