Thread by @HisKnowledgeabl

DECENTRALISING @PoliceNG: @iamekweremadu MODEL BOUND TO FAIL

ATT: @DrAhmadLawan @femigbaja @NGRSenate @HouseNGR @MBuhari @ProfOsinbajo @atiku @bukolasaraki @DrJoeAbah @PeterObi @MrFixNigeria @dino_melaye @Dr_IfeanyiUbah @FemAdesina @GarShehu @Gidi_Traffic @adeyanjudeji

THREAD

2/ So, I've taken my time to copiously read a story published by @MobilePunch earlier today, quoting @iamekweremadu through his media aide, Uche Anichukwu.

3/ In the story, @iamekweremadu while promising he was going to reintroduce to the 9th @NGRSenate a bill for State @PoliceNG, among other things said:

- Funds for State Police Commands will be channelled directly to them through the National Police Service Commission.

4/ - This is to make them financially independent of the state governors.

5/ - Regarding the worry that some states may not have the resources to pay state police personnel, it is important to note that it shall not be compulsory on any state to establish a State Police.

Really?

6/ - Just as the case of state universities, those who have the resources can start, while others who can’t, will continue to rely on federal universities, in this case, Federal Police.

Really?

7/ - Again, a Governor cannot just wake and sack a Commissioner of Police of his or her State.

Really?

8/ - The Commissioner shall only be removed by the Governor upon the recommendation of the National Police Service Commission praying that he be so removed on grounds of misconduct in the performance of his official duties, serious breach of policing standards, among others.

9/ With all due respect, (apologies to @DrJoeAbah), good as this model proposed by the Distinguished Sen. @iamekweremadu sounds, it is bound to FAIL and also highly prone to the current abuses rocking the @PoliceNG. Since 1983, @PoliceNG has continued to experience inefficiencies

10/ I'll continue to blame @MBuhari for the rot that has made @PoliceNG inefficient till date. Recall when he came through a military coup in 1983, he sacked then famous Police IGP, late Sunday Adewusi. @PoliceNG was defunded, had no IGP, until Ibrahim Babangida came in in 1985.

11/ @MBuhari through his command and control policies from 1983-1985, denied the @PoliceNG full support. He transferred the duty of internal security to @HQNigerianArmy, instead of @PoliceNG. @PoliceNG is yet to recover till date.

12/ Having said that, it is not too late to reorganise Nigeria's Policing system towards a Better Internal Security, through #RestructuringNigeria and Decentralising @PoliceNG.

13/ @iamekweremadu model is bound to fail as funding the @PoliceNG has been a major problem for Abuja since @MBuhari first coming 1983. FG should not fund State Police. State Governments should.

14/ Allaying the fears of abusing the State Police by Governors. What then is the role of the DSS, @officialEFCC, @ICPC_PE, and the office of the Inspector General of Police, which must remain even after decentralisation?

15/ If a State Gov abuses the State Police architecture to satisfy his personal aggrandizement, the Feds- DSS, @officialEFCC, @ICPC_PE, IGP will arrest such Commissioner of Police. If the Governor thinks he has immunity from arrest, prosecution, wait for him/her after office.

16/ Further decentralising @PoliceNG, #RestructureNigeria to create 774 Police Departments across Nigeria's 774 LGAs. While State Governments should fund the State Police Commands; LG councils should share funding of LG Police Departments with States. FG should fund the Feds.

17/ Governors are the Chief Security Officers of their states, they should therefore take charge of internal security in their respective states. Where they are found wanting, Abuja can send the Feds- IGP's office, DSS, @officialEFCC, @ICPC_PE et al to intervene.

18/ Moreso, LG chairmen are the Chief Security Officers of their individual council areas. Where they are found wanting, the State Governors intervene.

19/ The problem with @iamekweremadu model is that like today, Police Commissioners will still show insubordination to Governors- Chief Security Officers of States, as funding and authority come from Abuja. Where Mr. President dislikes the Governor, he will use CPs to cause CHAOS.

20/ These acts of insubordination by CPs, teleguided by FG, to State Govs who're supposed to be the Chief Security Officers of their States 've continued since 1979 till date. The case of CP Joseph Mbu & @ChibuikeAmaechi is still fresh in our minds. What of Kano's last guber?

21/ On issue of funding for State Police & 774 Police Depts, Nigeria's Revenue Sharing Formula MUST be RENEGOTIATED. This 52.68% for FG; 26.72% for States and 20.60% for Local Governments is UNFEASIBLE, in 2020, if Nigeria is to fix its broken security architecture.

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Namaste @threadreaderapp, please UNROLL as usual.