State Police Lawyer Oshoma cautions against giving governors too much power

Legal practitioner Liborous Oshoma has voiced support for the creation of state police forces in Nigeria, arguing that it is a necessary measure in response to the country’s escalating security challenges.

He cautioned, however, that governors should not be granted absolute authority over the proposed security structure.

Speaking on the issue, Oshoma highlighted concerns that governors could abuse power, which he sees as a major obstacle to establishing state police.

He pointed to experiences with state electoral commissions, which have raised fears that governors might use state police to intimidate political opponents and influence elections.

According to him, “the powers to appoint, discipline, and fund state police officers should not rest solely with governors.”

Oshoma advocated for an independent body to oversee recruitment, discipline, salaries, and operational standards, thereby ensuring accountability and preventing political interference.

He argued that while governors are recognized as chief security officers of their states, this does not mean security agencies should be entirely answerable to them; excessive concentration of authority could lead to abuse and erode public confidence in the system.

He further suggested establishing a State Police Commission composed of representatives from civil society organizations, professional bodies, the media, and other stakeholders, rather than individuals appointed exclusively by state governors.

While acknowledging the concerns surrounding state policing, Oshoma maintained that worsening insecurity across the country strengthens the case for decentralized policing.

He said local police forces would improve intelligence gathering, enable faster responses to threats, and strengthen community-based security efforts.

Oshoma also noted that implementing state police would require constitutional amendments, particularly to provisions that currently recognize only the Nigeria Police Force as the country’s official policing institution.

He concluded by urging lawmakers and stakeholders to carefully design safeguards that prevent abuse while ensuring that state police effectively address Nigeria’s security challenges.