Lagos State House of Assembly has urged the National Assembly to review the 1999 Constitution to allow state police, with the view to curb security challenges bedevilling the country.
The Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, who spoke at the first plenary, said to combat insecurity in the country, the current constitution needed to be amended to give legal backing to state police.
“There is need for the National Assembly, to commence amendment of the Constitution to give room for ‘each’ state to establish its own police to address challenges of insecurity,” he said.
He urged the governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to further equip the Neighbourhood Security Corps to enhance security in the state.
The lawmaker, representing Eti-Osa Consituency, Gbolahan Yishawu, commended the Speaker for bringing up the issue of state policing again, saying: “We remember very well that it was you that sponsored the bill on Neighbourhood Safety Corps and we see what it has done for the state and how other states are emulating it.”
The motion was supported by other lawmakers, who complained about the inadequate number of police personnel in Lagos.
They also advocated police reform at the national level.
The lawmakers argued further that the establishment of state police would boost employment across the country.
Meanwhile, the House, through Speaker Mudashiru Obasa, has congratulated President Bola Tinubu over his election as Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Also, the issue of the alleged flagrant abuse of the separation of powers by the executive over failure to have recourse to the House before appointments of board has been resolved. The following recommendation was made: The representatives must ensure to abide by the laws of nomination of appointment of political holders.
“Appointments should only commence after the screening and confirmation by the House. The Head of Service must ensure that all governor nominees are subjected to screening and confirmation of the House.
The Assembly insisted that government appointees must not be issued any letter of appointment and or their names be forwarded to the Accountant General of the state until such appointment has been confirmed by the House.
The Assembly also said those that are yet to be confirmed by the House should refund all the monies received since they resume of office.
It also harped on the need for all MDAs to be educated on the enabling laws guiding their respective MDAs.
It said the Head of Service should forward the names of all the political appointees for screening within seven days after the adoption of the report.
