The National Assembly has commenced moves to ensure that the proposed state police service is free from political interference, criminal networks, business interests and other vested groups.

This was disclosed by Senate Leader Senator Opeyemi Bamidele today while responding to concerns raised by stakeholders over the state police proposal.

He acknowledged that many of the concerns expressed by Nigerians were legitimate, noting that they were informed by the country’s experience under the First Republic when regional governments controlled police forces.

He said the National Assembly was addressing those concerns by introducing multiple safeguards to guarantee the operational and financial independence of state police services.

The senator who represents Ekiti Central, said one of the key safeguards being considered is to make funding for state police services a first-line charge in the constitution, similar to the arrangement for the judiciary.

His words: “The funding of the judiciary is provided for in the 1999 Constitution. The Chief Justice of Nigeria, for instance, does not have to take her file to the President for approval on every procurement unlike a minister or any member of the Federal Executive Council that must secure presidential approval to spend any money.

“That is why we call it a first-line charge. In other words, the commissioner of police and state police service commission must have a guaranteed source of funds provided for in the 1999 Constitution in a way that the police chief will not be subject to the whims and caprices of a state governor.Executive Branch

“If a state police service is not responding well to the directives of a governor, he may choose not to fund it. We must prevent such a situation.

“We are, therefore, under the obligation to make provision for a certain percentage of a state budget specifically for the operations of state police services. Access to funds must be clearly spelt out.”