State Police Bill: Reform is rushed amid failure to strengthen the National Police Force

By John Alechenu

ABUJA — The Conference of United Political Parties (CUPP) has criticised the Federal Government for passing the Constitution Alteration (State Police) Bill, calling the move a rushed reform that comes amid the administration’s failure to adequately strengthen the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

The Senate approved the bill on June 24, 2026, after it had been passed by the House of Representatives, setting the stage for a decentralised policing system intended to remedy the shortcomings of the current centralised structure.

Acting National Chairman of CUPP, Chief Peter Ameh, told reporters in Abuja that Nigeria still faces widespread insecurity, including banditry, kidnapping, insurgency, farmer‑herder clashes, communal violence and urban crime.

He said the NPF remains overstretched and underfunded, despite repeated government assurances about recruitment and increased funding.

“Despite repeated promises by the Tinubu administration to massively recruit and adequately fund the police, including announcements regarding the recruitment of tens of thousands of officers and the strengthening of the Police Trust Fund, these commitments have not been implemented on the scale or with the urgency required,” Ameh said.

He argued that the inability to equip and expand the federal police has highlighted the limits of a purely centrally controlled security architecture.

While acknowledging the potential advantages of state police—particularly in community‑based policing and intelligence gathering—CUPP warned that the reform should not be seen as a panacea for Nigeria’s security challenges.

The coalition noted that state police officers, familiar with local terrain, languages and specific security threats, could improve law enforcement and response times at the grassroots level.

However, Ameh cautioned that the new policing structure could become vulnerable to abuse if not properly regulated.

“We caution that poorly implemented state police could be vulnerable to abuse, including political weaponisation, election interference and the suppression of opposition voices,” he said.

CUPP urged the National Assembly to establish clear national standards, robust oversight mechanisms and sustainable funding arrangements to support states with limited financial resources.

The coalition also called on the Federal Government to honour its long‑standing promises to recruit, equip and adequately fund the Nigeria Police Force.

It further appealed to civil society organisations, traditional institutions, security experts and the general public to actively monitor the implementation of the reform and demand accountability, professionalism and respect for human rights.

According to CUPP, tackling insecurity requires more than structural reforms; it must be accompanied by efforts to address underlying factors such as poverty, unemployment, porous borders, weak justice delivery systems and corruption.

“The Tinubu administration must complement this reform with genuine efforts to address the root causes of insecurity while fulfilling its obligations to the existing federal police force,” the coalition stated.

CUPP maintained that while the state police initiative holds significant promise, its success will depend on transparent, accountable and professional implementation focused on protecting the lives and property of Nigerians.

“This reform carries both promise and risk. Its ultimate success will depend on transparent, accountable and professionally executed implementation that prioritises the safety and well‑being of all Nigerians,” the coalition added.