The Senate has explained why the proposed state police framework excludes the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Lawmakers said Abuja does not have the constitutional structures that qualify Nigeria’s 36 states for state-controlled policing.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Publicity, Yemi Adaramodu, said the Federal Government directly administers the FCT. He added that the territory would continue to operate under the federal policing system. Adaramodu spoke on Friday while explaining why lawmakers left the FCT out of the constitutional amendment seeking to establish state police.
Why FCT Is Not Included
According to Adaramodu, the FCT differs from the 36 states because it has no elected governor or State House of Assembly. Instead, a minister oversees the territory under the Federal Executive Council (FEC). He said the National Assembly also makes laws for the FCT.
He said:
“I have heard many people raise a lot of questions on why the Federal Capital Territory is not among the plan for state police. 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. It is from this FEC that the FCT takes directives and its administrative relevance.
“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.”
State Police Bill Advances
The clarification comes as the Federal Government pushes ahead with plans to establish state police across the country. The Presidential Working Group plans to present the draft Executive National Policing Bill to President Bola Tinubu on September 3. Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, announced the development after a meeting of the Presidential Working Group at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
He also unveiled a public information portal. Nigerians can use the platform to submit memoranda and position papers before the President forwards the proposed bill to the National Assembly.
How The Proposed Framework Will Operate
The constitutional amendment will create the legal foundation for state police. The Executive Bill will outline how the new policing system will operate.Under the proposal, state Houses of Assembly will make laws on the establishment, administration, funding and oversight of state police.
Funding remains one of the biggest issues under consideration. The proposal places the primary responsibility for funding state police on state governments. However, it also allows the Federal Government to provide grants or financial assistance when necessary.
Under the proposed Section 216A, the Federal Government may support state police after the National Police Council recommends it and the National Assembly approves it. The proposal does not set a minimum federal contribution or provide a fixed funding formula. As a result, states will finance most of their police operations, while federal support will depend on official approval.
Federal Police To Remain In Charge Of FCT
Adaramodu maintained that the current arrangement in the FCT would remain unchanged because the Federal Government administers the territory directly. He said the absence of a governor and a State House of Assembly makes it impossible for Abuja to operate a state police structure under the proposed constitutional amendment.
As lawmakers continue work on the state police bill, the FCT’s constitutional status will remain an important issue in discussions on policing Nigeria’s capital.
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