Ndume raises legal, funding worries as Senate passes state police bill

Senator Ali Ndume, representing Borno South, warned on Arise Television's Prime Time that Nigeria's move toward state police must first settle legal, funding and accountability questions, even as the Senate passed the enabling bill on Wednesday. He said the concept can work, but warned that without a clear legal framework, reliable funding and clear operating rules, state forces could repeat the abuses seen with other security agencies. Ndume noted that all governors had unanimously backed the idea of state police, yet stressed that the devil is in the details—how officers will be paid, who will oversee them, and what laws will govern their conduct.

The Senate's approval moves Nigeria closer to deploying state-level police to tackle rising banditry, kidnapping and communal clashes, especially in states like Borno where insecurity remains high. If funded and managed poorly, state police could become another tool for repression or ethnic targeting, draining state budgets and eroding public trust. Conversely, a well-designed force could improve local intelligence and response times, reducing reliance on overstretched federal forces.

What should you watch? Check whether your state government has outlined a funding plan for its proposed police command, what oversight bodies will be created, and how recruitment will avoid politicization. As the bill moves to the House of Representatives, public pressure could shape the final law—ask your representatives how they'll ensure the force is both effective and accountable.

SOURCE: https://dailypost.ng/2026/06/25/state-police-ndume-raises-issues-of-concern-as-senate-passes-bill/