As debate continues over the Senate’s approval of constitutional amendments to establish State Police in Nigeria, Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, has moved to allay fears that governors could hijack the new security structure for political purposes.
Speaking shortly after the Senate passed the State Police Bill on Wednesday, Sani insisted that the proposed framework contains multiple safeguards designed to prevent abuse of power and ensure accountability.
The governor made the clarification during an interview on Channels Television, where he addressed concerns that state-controlled police forces could become tools for political intimidation.
“Governors Cannot Hire And Fire At Will”
One of the major fears surrounding State Police has been the possibility of governors exercising unchecked control over police commissioners in their states.
However, Sani argued that the legal framework guiding the proposed system makes such fears largely unfounded.
According to him, while a governor may have a role in appointing a state commissioner of police, removing such an officer would require approvals from several institutions.
“I can tell you today that you can appoint the commissioner of police, but you cannot sack him,” Sani said.
“You can’t even sack him through the State Assembly alone. It must be with the approval of the Police Service Commission or Police Council, as well as the National Assembly together with the State Assembly.”
He explained that these provisions were deliberately included to prevent any governor from using the police for personal or political interests.
“There are a lot of safeguards to stop abuse. It is there in the Act,” he added.
State Police Not About Politics, Says Governor
Sani also dismissed suggestions that the push for State Police was politically motivated, maintaining that the proposal is driven by the need to strengthen security across the country.
According to him, the primary objective is to improve the protection of lives and property by allowing states to play a more active role in tackling local security challenges.
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The governor expressed confidence that Nigerians would eventually embrace the initiative once they understand the checks and balances built into the system.
He argued that State Police could help address rising insecurity by creating a more community-focused policing structure capable of responding quickly to threats within states.
His comments came hours after the Senate approved constitutional amendments seeking to establish State Police, a development widely seen as one of the most significant security reforms in Nigeria’s democratic history.
The proposed legislation will now require approval from at least two-thirds of the country’s State Houses of Assembly before it can become part of the Constitution and take full effect.