Senate Explains Why FCT Won’t Have State Police Under New Plan

The Senate has explained why the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) will not be included in the proposed state police structure currently being considered as part of Nigeria’s policing reforms.

Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Publicity, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, said the FCT was excluded because it does not have the constitutional institutions associated with Nigeria’s 36 states, including an elected governor and a state House of Assembly.

According to IReporter Online, Adaramodu made the clarification on Friday while addressing concerns over the proposed decentralisation of policing across the country.

The lawmaker explained that the FCT operates under the direct authority of the Federal Government and is administered by a minister who serves within the Federal Executive Council.

He noted that, unlike the states, the FCT does not have an elected governor or an independent legislative assembly. Instead, legislative responsibilities for the territory are handled by the National Assembly.

Adaramodu therefore stated that the Nigeria Police Force would remain responsible for policing the FCT under the proposed arrangement.

The clarification comes amid renewed efforts by the Federal Government to reform Nigeria’s policing system following years of calls for the creation of state police.

The Presidency has indicated that President Bola Tinubu is expected to receive the draft Executive National Policing Bill on September 3 as part of efforts to overhaul the country’s security architecture.

Chief of Staff to the President and Chairman of the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill, Femi Gbajabiamila, disclosed the development after a meeting of the group at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

He also announced a public information portal through which Nigerians can submit memoranda and position papers on the proposed legislation.

The planned constitutional amendment is expected to provide the legal framework for state police, while the Executive National Policing Bill would establish the operational structure for the new policing system.

Under the proposed framework, state Houses of Assembly would have authority to legislate on the establishment, administration, funding and oversight of state police formations.

The states would also bear the major responsibility for financing their respective police formations, although federal grants or other forms of assistance could be made available.

A proposed constitutional provision would allow the Federal Government to provide grants or assistance to state police based on recommendations from the National Police Council and approval by the National Assembly.

However, the proposal does not currently establish a fixed federal contribution or guaranteed funding formula for state police.

For the FCT, the existing federal administrative structure means policing responsibilities would remain under the Federal Government rather than being transferred to a state-level authority.

Adaramodu maintained that the constitutional status of the FCT makes its situation different from that of the 36 states, explaining why it would remain under federal policing even if the proposed state police system becomes law.