Obasa: State Police Needs Freedom From Federal Control
The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, has said state police may not function effectively unless states are given greater control over their security operations.
Obasa made the remarks during plenary on Tuesday while lawmakers considered the proposed amendment to the 1999 Constitution seeking to establish state police in Nigeria.
He expressed concern that the proposed constitutional amendment still gives the Federal Government significant control over state policing, warning that such an arrangement could undermine the purpose of decentralising the country’s security system.
According to the Speaker, states should have greater authority to manage their security systems in line with the principles of true federalism.
“Even though we are happy that we are having state police, our interests and positions have not been well taken care of in this alteration. You would realise that the major control still lies at the centre,” he said.
Obasa also faulted a provision in the proposed amendment stating that the federal position would prevail in the event of a conflict between the State House of Assembly and the National Assembly.
He, however, described the proposed reform as a step forward, expressing hope that future constitutional amendments would give states greater autonomy over their police services.
The Lagos Assembly subsequently endorsed the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Sixth Alteration Bill, 2026, transmitted by the National Assembly for ratification by state legislatures.
Obasa also called for the establishment of parliamentary police to protect legislative institutions and strengthen their independence, arguing that additional safeguards were needed to prevent political interference and protect democratic institutions.
