Get Guardian on GoogleAbiodun says over 6,000 Amotekun, So-Safe personnel ready for Ogun state police
Two civl society organisations, the Gani Fawehinmi Memorial Organisation (GAFAMORG) and the National Coalition Against Mass Killings, Extra-Judicial Killings, Mob Actions and Impunity (NCAMKI), have called for the immediate publication of the proposed National Policing Bill 2026 and 29 consequential amendment bills to allow Nigerians to scrutinise the proposed establishment of State Police.
The organisations also urged the Federal Ministry of Justice and the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill to incorporate their 42 proposed safeguards into the legislative framework, warning that decentralising policing without effective accountability mechanisms could expose citizens to political manipulation, arbitrary arrests, torture and extra-judicial killings.
In a joint statement, the groups acknowledged the announcement that the Presidential Working Group had completed drafting the proposed National Policing Bill and 29 related amendment bills and submitted them to the Ministry of Justice for review and validation.
According to a statement by the Chief of Staff to the President and Chairman of the Working Group, Femi Gbajabiamila, the draft legislation was submitted on October 19, with the ministry expected to return the validated documents by October 30 for final consideration before presentation to the President.
MEANWHILE, Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has said that the state is well-positioned to establish its own police force, with over 6,000 personnel from the Ogun State Security Network, codenamed Amotekun, and the So-Safe Corps, available to provide a manpower base.
Abiodun, who spoke at the weekend, said the state had established a security foundation that would facilitate the transition to state policing and strengthen the protection of lives and property.
But while describing the development as significant in the debate over federal and state police, GAFAMORG and NCAMKI insisted that completing the drafting process did not amount to democratic scrutiny.
They maintained that the proposed reform must undergo independent examination to ensure that the transfer of policing powers to state governments does not create additional avenues for abuse of power and impunity.
The organisations, however, raised concerns about the independence of state police, particularly the potential influence of governors and other political officeholders on recruitment, promotion, discipline, deployment, and operational decisions.
The organisations cautioned against allowing administrative deadlines to undermine public participation, saying that the 30-day period communicated by the National Assembly should not override constitutional requirements or the need for thorough scrutiny.
They further urged the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), human rights organisations, professional associations, academics and the media to intensify engagement with the proposed reform.
They said labour unions should pay particular attention to protecting workers’ rights to lawful union activities, while professional bodies and civil society groups should contribute technical expertise, prepare independent memoranda and demand public hearings.
The governor spoke at the 50th anniversary celebration of Ereke Day in Ikenne, Ikenne Local Council, where he described the Ogun State House of Assembly’s approval of state police as a significant milestone in the state’s efforts to strengthen its security architecture.
He, however, commended traditional rulers and the Ikenne Traditional Council of Chiefs for their leadership, wisdom and commitment to preserving the unity of the community and promoting development.
