The National Economic Council has received reports from sixteen state governors expressing support for the establishment of state police.
They also proposed amendments to the constitution to allow for the establishment of state police.
The reports were among the documents received at the 140th NEC meeting, which was presided over by Vice President Kashim Shettima on Thursday at the Aso Rock Villa in Abuja, Punch reports.
Read Also: PHOTOS: IGP pays working visit to Kano State Police Command, Kano Emir’s palace
Stanley Nkwocha, Special Adviser to the Vice President on Media and Communications, revealed this in a statement signed Thursday titled “NEC endorses launch of $617 million i-DICE programme across states.”
According to the statement, NEC is still waiting for reports from 20 states. It conveyed confidence that others would help.
The provisions of section 153(1) and paragraphs 18 and 19 of Part I of the Third Schedule of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) established the National Executive Council. Its members include the 36 state governors, the Governor of the Central Bank, and other co-opted government officials.
The Vice President chairs the NEC, which meets monthly to carry out its mandate of “advising the President concerning the economic affairs of the Federation, and in particular on measures necessary for the coordination of the economic planning efforts or economic programmes of the various Governments of the Federation.”
According to the Vice-President’s spokesman, Nkwocha, the “Secretary to NEC (Mr Nebeolisa Anako) made a presentation on state submissions on the state policing initiative.” 16 states have received reports on the establishment of State Police. Twenty states have yet to send in their reports. All states in the country expressed support for the establishment of state police for the reasons listed below.
“States gave presentations in support of the establishment of state police. States recommended constitutional and policing structure changes to enable the initiative’s implementation.”
However, no information was provided about the specific states. The Vice President’s spokesperson confirmed that the total number would be presented at the next NEC meeting, even though “the compilation is still ongoing.”
This comes weeks after the federal and state governments agreed on February 16, 2024, to develop plans to establish state police to address the country’s security crisis.
