Nigeria state police funding debate

Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, also Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, has stated that funding for proposed state police services must be a first-line charge in the ongoing constitutional amendment to ensure financial independence and prevent abuse by political actors, business interests, criminals, and cabals. He acknowledged concerns from stakeholders, particularly lessons from the First Republic when regional police forces were misused. The National Assembly is developing safeguards including guaranteed funding similar to the judiciary, requiring a percentage of state budgets for police operations, and moving policing from the Exclusive to the Concurrent Legislative List to empower states. Bamidele warned that without financial autonomy, state police could be compromised by those who pay.