Benue, Plateau, Nasarawa endorse constitution amendment, demand state police 

Benue, Plateau, and Nasarawa have backed the ongoing constitution amendment for the establishment of state police. 

The states made the demand on Saturday in Lafia, the capital of Nasarawa state, during the north-west public hearing convened by the  house of representatives committee on constitution review.

The calls to establish state police have gained momentum lately following the uptick in violent attacks across the nation.

A bill seeking to establish state police scaled its second reading last year and is currently being considered by the constitution amendment committee.

During his presentation at the event, Hyacinth Alia, Benue governor, noted that the establishment of state police would empower governors to take full charge of security in their states.

Alia, who was represented by Fidelis Mnyim, attorney-general of the state, said the anti-open grazing law in Benue is not effective due to limitations in implementation.

“A governor cannot command any of the security agencies or deploy them to troubled areas. For instance, Benue has an anti-open grazing law. Still, we cannot implement it because the governor is said to be the chief security officer, but to the contrary, cannot direct the police even on arrest,” he said. 

On electoral reforms, Alia called for a more evidence-based, documentation-driven legal framework in resolving election-related cases.

“There should be a shift from oral-based evidence to documentary evidence. Let a documentary jurisprudence be established,” he said.

Caleb Mutfwang, the governor of Plateau, represented by Philemon Daffi, the state attorney-general, corroborated the views of his Benue counterpart.

“Plateau is in full support of state Police. We support it because it will go a long way in tackling the perennial insecurity in the state,” he said.

“No state in the country has suffered insecurity like Plateau state. And so, we are for state police, and we want other security agencies to be added as well.”

Mutfwang also proposed the separation of the office of the attorney-general from the minister of justice, and the same for states.

Abdullahi Sule, governor of Nasarawa, said state police will enhance the security of lives and properties.

Sule, represented by Isaac Danladi, attorney-general of the state, called for the establishment of an agency to take over the role of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in registering and regulating political parties.

“INEC will be freed from the enormous responsibility it currently carries to concentrate on conducting effective and transparent elections,” the governor said. 

The Nasarawa governor also advocated for the establishment of an Electoral Offences Commission. 

The governor opposed the independent candidate bill, stating that it “will create chaos and be cumbersome for INEC to coordinate the candidates”.

Idris Wase, former deputy speaker of the house, chaired the public hearing.

Kogi also supported the creation of state police at the constitution review public hearing held for Kwara, Kogi and Niger in Minna, the capital of Niger state.