…It recommends that roughly 60 per cent of current police personnel be reassigned to state police services, while the remaining 40 per cent stay under the federal command structure.
…The proposal also makes the use of body-worn cameras compulsory for officers as part of wider accountability and oversight measures.
…It further calls for the establishment of a national police standards board to regulate, monitor, and enforce operational standards across both federal and state police formations.
Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, has proposed a 60-month transition plan to decentralise policing in Nigeria, backed by constitutional amendments, a dedicated funding structure, and safeguards against political abuse.
The proposal, contained in a 75-page framework submitted to the National Assembly, sets out a phased plan for the creation of state police services alongside a retained federal policing structure.
Under the proposal, about 60 per cent of existing police personnel would move to state police services, while 40 per cent would remain within the federal system. The framework says the arrangement would help preserve institutional memory, avoid mass retrenchment, and ensure continuity during the transition.
The document was submitted on Thursday to the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Jibrin Barau, for legislative consideration. It was presented on the Inspector-General’s behalf by Olu Ogunsakin, who chaired the Nigeria Police Force committee that developed the framework.
The proposed structure would create a two-tier policing system made up of a Federal Police Service and 37 State Police Services, including the Federal Capital Territory.
Under the plan, the federal police would focus on terrorism, interstate crime, and the protection of federal assets, while state police formations would handle local crimes such as armed robbery, homicide, domestic violence, and community-level intelligence gathering.
A central part of the proposal is the creation of a constitutionally backed State Police Fund. The fund would receive 3 per cent of Federation Account allocations, while each state would also be required to commit at least 15 per cent of its security budget to policing.
The framework argues that ring-fenced funding would improve transparency, reduce political interference, and provide sustainable support for state police operations.
It also places community policing at the centre of the proposed system. Each state command would be required to establish a Department of Community Policing, with structured forums in every local government area.
The forums would include traditional rulers, youth groups, women’s organisations, and religious leaders. Community Liaison Officers would work with them and would be expected to speak local languages and respond to feedback from residents.
To address fears that governors could misuse state police for political purposes, the framework recommends the creation of independent State Police Service Commissions to oversee recruitment, promotions, and discipline.
It also proposes criminal sanctions for unlawful orders, especially those involving partisan deployment of officers, and gives the Federal High Court fast-track jurisdiction over politically motivated abuses.
Other accountability measures include mandatory body-worn cameras, the creation of State Police Ombudsmen, and public performance dashboards to track use-of-force incidents and community satisfaction.
At the national level, the framework recommends the establishment of a 13-member National Police Standards Board to set and enforce uniform standards across federal and state police formations. The board would publish annual compliance ratings for each state and could impose penalties, including funding restrictions, on defaulting jurisdictions.
On personnel transition, the proposal includes a Voluntary Transfer Programme for serving officers who choose to move into state police commands. The plan offers a three-month salary grant, transition training, and guaranteed pension continuity.
Implementation would begin with constitutional amendments in the first year. Later phases would cover the establishment of state commands, gradual transfer of personnel, and the withdrawal of federal police from routine local policing duties. Full consolidation is projected for between the fourth and fifth years, followed by an independent evaluation and legislative review.
The proposal also calls for amendments to Section 214 of the 1999 Constitution to allow federal and state police to operate side by side, and to move policing from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent List. It further proposes a new Section 214A to give legal backing to the National Police Standards Board.
The framework is expected to deepen ongoing debate over state police in Nigeria, with supporters saying decentralisation could improve responsiveness and intelligence gathering, while critics continue to raise concerns about political interference.
