The Movement for Improved Welfare for the Nigeria Police Force (MIWNPF) has called on President Bola Tinubu to withhold assent to the proposed State Police Bill, arguing that the legislation was processed without adequate public consultation or stakeholder engagement.

In a statement issued yesterday by its National Coordinator, Toyin Raheem, the group described the passage of the bill by the National Assembly as an affront to Nigerians, insisting that a law capable of reshaping the country’s security architecture should not be enacted without broad public participation.

According to MIWNPF, several civil society organisations and police reform advocacy groups with longstanding involvement in security sector reforms were excluded from the legislative process.

These include the Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), Network on Police Reform in Nigeria (NOPRIN), CLEEN Foundation, Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), Campaign for Constitutionalism and Human Rights (CCHR), Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD), Centre for People’s Defence (CPD), United Action for Democracy (UAD), Democratic Socialist Movement (DSM), Coalition Against Corruption and Bad Governance (CACOBAG), and others.

The group said it was “alarmed” that no public hearing or national consultation was held before the bill was passed.

“How can a law that will affect the security architecture of over 200 million Nigerians be passed in this manner?” the statement asked.

MIWNPF argued that Nigeria is not yet prepared for the establishment of state police, citing what it described as the risk of political manipulation by state governors.

It warned that state police could be used to intimidate political opponents, influence elections and settle political disputes, noting that similar concerns have been raised over the operations of some existing state-backed security outfits.

The organisation also expressed concern that creating another policing structure would further complicate Nigeria’s security framework, pointing to the existence of regional and community-based security organisations such as Amotekun, the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), Hisbah, Ebube Agu and various vigilante groups.

According to the group, introducing state police without first reforming and harmonising these structures could create rivalry, overlapping responsibilities and weaken accountability.

MIWNPF further questioned the need for a separate state police hierarchy when each state already has a Commissioner of Police overseeing federal policing operations.

The group argued that the country’s policing challenges stem more from inadequate funding, poor welfare for officers, lack of modern equipment and weak accountability mechanisms than from the existing centralised structure.

Drawing comparisons with other countries, MIWNPF said successful federal policing models in countries such as the United States and Germany are supported by strong institutions, independent judiciaries and effective local governance, conditions it believes Nigeria has yet to achieve.

Instead of creating state police, the group urged the Federal Government to focus on comprehensive police reforms, including better funding, improved welfare packages, life and health insurance, modern equipment, forensic facilities, information and communication technology, psychological support for personnel and merit-based promotions and postings.

The organisation also criticised the National Assembly’s handling of the bill, alleging that it lacked transparency and failed to reflect democratic principles.

It therefore urged President Tinubu to decline assent to the legislation and called on the National Assembly to convene a nationwide public debate or town hall meeting on policing, with the participation of MIWNPF, civil society organisations and other stakeholders.

The group also appealed to the Federal Government to prioritise the full implementation of the Police Act 2020 and address longstanding welfare and operational challenges facing officers before embarking on any restructuring of the nation’s policing system.

“Nigeria deserves security that protects the people, not security that protects politicians,” the statement concluded.