Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has accused state governors of neglecting their constitutional responsibilities in the management and oversight of the Nigeria Police Force.
Falana made the remarks during an interview on Channels Television on Friday while addressing ongoing debates over the creation of state police.
According to him, Nigeria does not operate a strictly federal police system, as widely believed, but a federation-based structure involving both the federal and state governments.
“We do not have a federal government police. What we have is a federation police. That is why it is called the Nigeria Police Force,” he said.
Falana explained that the Nigerian Police Council, constitutionally responsible for supervising the police, comprises the president, the Inspector General of Police, the chairman of the Police Service Commission, and the 36 state governors.
“In that 39-member council, the 36 state governors are members. But unfortunately, since 1999, the governors have abdicated their constitutional duty to the president,” he stated.
He argued that the failure of governors to insist on regular meetings of the council has effectively left control of the police in the hands of the president alone.
“The president cannot appoint or remove an Inspector General of Police without going to the council, but that council does not meet. It is the only security body in Nigeria that does not meet,” Falana added.
The senior lawyer also questioned the growing demand for state police, noting that many states already operate regional or community-based security outfits such as Amotekun, Neighborhood Watch, the Civilian Joint Task Force, and Hisbah.
He maintained that Nigeria’s security challenges would not be solved by creating new agencies alone, stressing that existing security structures require better funding, coordination, and equipment.
“How can you ask security personnel to go to the forest and confront criminals armed with AK-47 rifles when they are only allowed to carry locally made guns?” he asked.
