State Police Bill will Fuel Abuse, Deepen Inequality Without Safeguards — CISLAC Warns

The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) and Transparency International (TI) Nigeria have warned that Nigeria’s proposed State Police system could become a tool for political oppression and widen security inequalities if critical safeguards are not built into the framework.

In a statement issued on Friday, Executive Director of CISLAC and Head of TI Nigeria, Comrade Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, said the constitutional amendment on State Policing, recently passed by the National Assembly, contains significant gaps that could undermine its objectives if not properly addressed before ratification by state legislatures and presidential assent.

According to the organisation, while decentralised policing could improve intelligence gathering, community trust and responses to local security threats, creating state police formations alone would not automatically solve Nigeria’s security challenges.

CISLAC expressed concerns that governors and other political actors could hijack state police structures to intimidate opponents, suppress dissent, harass journalists and civil society groups, and influence electoral outcomes if strong constitutional safeguards and independent oversight mechanisms are not entrenched.

The organisation also cautioned against the recruitment of political loyalists, thugs and other politically exposed persons into the proposed state police system, insisting that recruitment must be transparent, merit-based and independently verified to preserve professionalism and public confidence.

It further raised concerns over the financial and institutional capacity of many states, noting that several state governments already struggle to meet obligations such as salaries and pensions.

According to CISLAC, inadequate funding could create a two-tier policing system where wealthier states maintain effective security outfits while poorer states are left with underfunded and ineffective police formations vulnerable to corruption and operational failure.

The organisation stressed that beyond funding, states must possess the administrative and technical capacity to manage modern police institutions, including effective human resource management, disciplinary systems, intelligence coordination and adherence to national professional standards.

CISLAC also called for stronger accountability measures, including independent supervision, robust human rights training, effective complaint and disciplinary mechanisms, enforceable sanctions for misconduct, and clear frameworks for intelligence sharing between state police and federal security agencies.

The group urged the government to ensure that state police formations are equipped to address emerging security threats through investments in forensic investigations, cybercrime capabilities, digital intelligence, surveillance technology and specialised response units.

Rafsanjani warned against viewing state policing as an instant solution to Nigeria’s security crisis, saying the transition would require time before the new system becomes fully operational.

“State policing holds immense potential to enhance local responsiveness to insecurity, but without ironclad safeguards, it risks becoming a new frontier for abuse and fragmentation. True security reform must serve the people, not entrench elite power,” he said.

CISLAC called on the 36 State Houses of Assembly to conduct extensive public hearings and strengthen the proposed framework during the ratification process.
The organisation also advocated for independent State Police Service Commissions, protected funding mechanisms, transparent procurement processes, mandatory audits and uniform national standards on recruitment, operations, welfare, accountability and human rights compliance.

It further urged the Federal Government and the National Assembly to establish a multi-stakeholder transitional committee to oversee implementation, monitor compliance and evaluate the impact of the reform nationwide.

CISLAC reaffirmed its commitment to engaging with governments, civil society groups, traditional institutions, labour unions, the media and the private sector to ensure that any state policing framework delivers accountable, transparent and citizen-centred security for all Nigerians.