By Mercy Aikoye
The growing push for the establishment of state police in Nigeria will come under fresh scrutiny in Abuja on Tuesday, October 6, as stakeholders converge for the second annual Distinguished Parliamentarian Lecture and Awards organised by the House of Representatives Press Corps.
The lecture, which is expected to bring together lawmakers, policymakers, security experts and other stakeholders, will focus on the implications of the proposed state police system for national security, community policing and Nigeria’s federal structure.
The event, with the theme, “The Imperative for State Police: Securing Communities, Strengthening Federalism,” is coming at a time when the Constitution Alteration Bill seeking to establish State Police Services has been transmitted to the 36 State Houses of Assembly for consideration.
Secretary of the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill, Mr Nnadubem Moghalu, is expected to deliver the keynote lecture titled, “State Police, Community Security and the Future of Federalism in Nigeria.”
Moghalu, who is also the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Planning and Research, is expected to examine the proposed policing framework and its potential implications for community security, federalism and coordination between state and federal security institutions.
Discussions at the event are also expected to address key concerns surrounding the proposed reform, including funding, recruitment, training, operational independence, accountability, oversight and measures to prevent abuse of police powers.
Niger State Governor, Farmer Mohammed Umaru Bago; Founder and Chairman of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Ltd., High Chief Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo; and former Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Ndudi Godwin Elumelu, are expected to participate in the event.
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, will serve as Chief Host and is expected to speak on the position of the 10th House on state police and other security-related legislative initiatives.
Deputy Speaker, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, is also expected at the gathering.
The organisers said the lecture would provide a platform for stakeholders to examine the proposed reform from legislative, security, governance and community perspectives, while encouraging informed discussion on the future of policing in Nigeria.
Other expected participants include the Clerk to the National Assembly, Barr. Kamoru Ogunlana; Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Hon. Akin Rotimi Jr.; Chairman of the NUJ FCT Council, Comrade Grace Ike; as well as representatives of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and development partners.
The event will also feature the presentation of the House of Representatives Press Corps Distinguished Parliamentarian Awards to Governor Bago and Tompolo.
Bago will receive the award for his contributions to rural development and public leadership, while Tompolo will be presented with the Award of Excellence in National Assets Protection for his contribution to the protection of Nigeria’s critical national assets.
Chairman of the House of Representatives Press Corps, Mr Gboyega Onadiran, said the annual lecture was established to provide a platform for constructive engagement on major national issues.
According to him, the choice of state police as the theme reflects the importance of the issue to Nigeria’s security architecture and the ongoing constitutional conversation on policing and federalism.
He added that the Press Corps would continue to promote engagement among the legislature, security stakeholders, the media and the wider public on issues of national importance.
The lecture is scheduled to hold at 10:00 a.m. at the National Assembly Library Auditorium, Abuja.
