By Oluwakemi Kindness
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has assured Nigerians that funding will not stand in the way of establishing state police, revealing that the National Assembly is putting measures in place to guarantee sustainable financing for the proposed security reform.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Friday after returning from engagements at Chatham House and the London Climate Action Week in the United Kingdom, Kalu said lawmakers are addressing concerns over the financial capacity of states to operate their own police forces.
According to him, the planned decentralisation of policing will shift part of the security burden from the Federal Government to state governments, making it necessary to develop a robust funding framework.
“We are looking at how to make sure funding will not be a problem because state policing will transfer some security responsibilities from the Federal Government to the states,” he said.
Kalu noted that President Bola Tinubu’s administration has significantly increased allocations to states, arguing that part of those resources could be channelled toward supporting state police operations.
He also disclosed that the National Assembly is using its current recess to fine-tune the constitutional amendment on state policing and strengthen the legal framework before legislative consideration resumes.
Addressing fears that governors could misuse state police for political purposes, the Deputy Speaker said the proposed legislation contains safeguards to prevent abuse, including clearly defined powers, responsibilities and mandatory national operational standards.
“They can improve on the standards, but they cannot go below the national minimum. State police will not be allowed to engage in partisan or politically motivated activities,” Kalu stated.
He further revealed that lawmakers plan to repeal and re-enact the Police Act following the constitutional amendment to create a comprehensive legal structure for implementing state policing.
On the nation’s security outlook, Kalu dismissed claims that insecurity is worsening, insisting that available data points to steady progress. He said the number of local government areas previously under insurgent control has fallen from 17 to fewer than six.
The Deputy Speaker also highlighted increased defence spending under the Tinubu administration, noting that allocations have risen from about ₦2.1 trillion to over ₦5 trillion.
He added that the National Assembly is advocating for defence funding to be placed on the first-line charge to ensure timely releases for security operations.
Kalu said he showcased these reforms during his engagements at Chatham House, presenting them as evidence of Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening security institutions and ensuring credible preparations for the 2027 general elections.
