STATE POLICE: Senate Finally 13 Create Zonal Headquarters, Reduce IG Powers, Full List
The Red Chamber of Nigeria National Assembly, the Senate have risen to the public cries for a decentralize policing system that will be community based, to address rising security challenges in the country.
State Police have been, what is recommended by security experts, who advised that crime is local, therefore the need for a state policing system, that will address security challenges in different states of the country.
The Senate, to address the challenge have introduce a bill, which seeks to decentralize the policing system, giving room for state police.
The Bill Titled, The Nigeria Police Act 2020 (Amendment) Bill, is sponsored by Senator Surajudeen Ajibola Basiru , All Progressive Congress, Osun Central Senatorial District.
The sponsor speaking with Daily Trust, said, “The amendments being sought to be implemented in the Police Act also align with the clamour for state police as the bill has made way for the participation of state actors in the affairs of the police force as it affects their zones and or states respectively.
“These amendments, if favourably considered and implemented, would improve our security apparatus and address the security challenges facing the nation.”
The Nigeria Police Act 2020 (Amendment) Bill, among other things seeks to insert a new Section ‘6(7)’ which provides for the structure of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) as follows:
(a) Force Headquarters; (b) Zonal Headquarters; (c) State Commands; (d) Training Institutes; (e) Area Commands; (f)Divisional Police Headquarters and (g) Police Stations.
The new section makes provision for an organic structure for the police force so that its operations would be streamlined easily and better coordinated in line with global best practices.
The new Section 6(9)(a) of the bill establishes the zonal structure of the NPF to be headed by an Assistant Inspector-General of Police, who is given the power of budgetary control over the respective zones.
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The provision makes for an even spread to all the geopolitical zones in the country and also obviates the unnecessary administrative bottleneck of having to report to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) in Abuja before key decisions are made, especially urgent decisions on funds.
Section 6(9)(a) Zonal Structure of the Nigerian Police Force provides thus:
(i) The zonal offices of the Nigeria Police Force shall consist as follows:
Zone 1: Kano/Jigawa/Katsina
Zone 2: Lagos/Ogun
Zone 3: Adamawa/Taraba/Gombe
Zone 4: Benue/Plateau/Nasarawa
Zone 5: Edo/Delta/Bayelsa
Zone 6: Rivers/Akwa-Ibom/Cross River
Zone 7: Kaduna/Niger/FCT
Zone 8: Ekiti/Kwara/Kogi
Zone 9: Imo/Abia
Zone 10: Sokoto/Zamfara/Kebbi
Zone 11: Oyo/Osun/Ondo
Zone 12: Bauchi/Yobe/Borno
Zone 13: Anambra/Enugu/Ebonyi.
(ii) Each zonal office shall be headed by an AIG of police who shall report to the IGP.
(iii) The zonal offices shall have an operation and budgetary control over the police formations in the zone and shall prepare and submit to the Force Headquarters their budget.
Sections 6(9) and (10) of the bill made provisions for the establishment of zonal and state security advisory councils, respectively.
These advisory councils are designed to be headed by the governors, on a rotational basis for the zones, and by each state governor in the states.
The bill said the advisory councils have the membership of the senators from the zones, speakers of the Houses of Assembly from the zone, all the security agencies, civil societies, traditional councils, business communities, local government chairmen, leaders of faith-based organisations, and representatives of the zones in the House of Assembly etc
STATE POLICE: Senate Finally 13 Create Zonal Headquarters, Reduce IG Powers: How do you feel?
STATE POLICE: Senate Finally 13 Create Zonal Headquarters, Reduce IG Powers: Do you have message to Senate?
STATE POLICE: Senate Finally 13 Create Zonal Headquarters, Reduce IG Powers: What is your opinion?
STATE POLICE: Senate Finally 13 Create Zonal Headquarters, Reduce IG Powers: Do you want to join police?
