National Conference Backs State Police, Advice President To Stop Pardoning Thievies

Members of the National Conference Thursday voted for the establishment of State Police in the country.

The conference also adopted the recommendation by the Committee on National Security that state laws should be used a guide to community policing.

They however disagreed on the mode of transfer of federal policemen to the states. Some members were in support of police officers be allowed to served only in their states for effective policing but other disagreed, saying such a gesture could be misused by politicians.

After much deliberation, the delegates adopted the recommendation that at least, 70 percent of federal police officers from the rank of Deputy Superintendent to Constable be allowed to serve in their state of origin.

On the issue of the mode of operation of the state police and if there would be superiority battle between the federal and the state police, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, one of the delegates said, the state police should be autonomous and should operate as a coordinate with the federal police while Mr. Femi Falana (SAN) said, “The state police will police and maintain state laws while the federal police will maintain federal laws.”

Some delegates also raised concern over the appropriate title for commissioners of police in charge of state and federal police as well as modalities for posting commissioners of police under the federal system to states.

Delegates voted against seeking the consent of a state governor before the posting of a commissioner of police under the federal system to and out of his state, they also voted against governors being involved in the running of police commands in their states.

On the issue of life insurance for all armed security personnel, included the police, the delegated voted in support of it.

It voted against the merging of the Federal Road Safety Corps and the National Security And Defense Corp with the NPF, it also rejected the call for the suspension of recruitment of constables for a given period of time within which police training institutions would be upgraded and brought to international standard.

It equally rejected the call for the suspension of recruitment of constables for a given period of time within which police training institutions would be upgraded and brought to international standard. It also rejected the call for the police to be brought under the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

The conference further called on the President Goodluck Jonathan to stop pardoning corrupt leaders.

My only issue with the State Police is, no matter how you see it the hand that pays the salary dictates the tune. The Governors will have a hand in their running one way or the other, am sure and that could then be the problem. Governors are politicians whose only regards is their party’s concern. That’s my fear.

But is State Police a healthier choice?