The Senate has explained that the Federal Capital Territory will not be part of the proposed state police system because the FCT does not have a governor or a State House of Assembly.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Publicity, Yemi Adaramodu, explained this on Friday while speaking on why the FCT was left out of the constitutional framework for establishing state police.
According to Adaramodu, the FCT has a different administrative structure from Nigeria’s 36 states. He said the territory is directly controlled by the Federal Government and is headed by a minister who operates under the Federal Executive Council.
He also noted that the FCT does not have a legislative assembly. Instead, the National Assembly makes laws for the territory.
Adaramodu said these differences mean that the FCT cannot operate its own police force under the proposed state police arrangement.
He said, “The FCT issue is different. It is under the Federal Government.
“Again, the FCT does not have a governor. It is run by a minister who subscribes to the Federal Executive Council.
“So, the federal capital does not have an assembly. It is the National Assembly that legislates for the FCT. This is why it can’t be different from what the Federal Government does. Therefore, the federal police are in charge.”
The clarification comes as the Federal Government moves to introduce a new policing system following growing calls for the decentralisation of policing and the establishment of state police.
The Presidency has announced that President Bola Tinubu is expected to receive the draft Executive National Policing Bill on September 3.
The Chief of Staff to the President and Chairman of the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill, Femi Gbajabiamila, disclosed this after a meeting of the group at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Gbajabiamila also unveiled a public information portal where Nigerians can submit memoranda and position papers on the proposed legislation before it is considered by the President and later sent to the National Assembly.
While the recent constitutional amendment provides the legal basis for state police, the Executive Bill is expected to set out how the new policing system will operate.
The proposed state police system has, however, raised questions about funding and administration.
Under the constitutional amendments, state Houses of Assembly would have the power to make laws covering the establishment, organisation, administration, funding and supervision of state police.
The states would have the main responsibility for funding their police forces, while the Federal Government could provide grants or other forms of assistance.
A new provision, Section 216A, states that the Federal Government may provide grants or aid to state police based on recommendations from the National Police Council and subject to approval by the National Assembly.
However, the provision does not state a minimum federal contribution or a fixed funding formula for state police.
This means states would be expected to bear most of the financial responsibility, while federal support would depend on recommendations by the National Police Council and approval by the National Assembly.
The National Police Council is chaired by the President and includes other senior federal and state officials.
For now, the FCT will remain under the federal policing system because of its special constitutional and administrative status.
