The Senate has explained why the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) is excluded from the proposed state police framework, saying the territory does not have a governor or State House of Assembly and remains under the direct administration of the Federal Government.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Publicity, Yemi Adaramodu, gave the explanation while speaking with Saturday PUNCH on Friday amid questions over the exclusion of the FCT from the constitutional framework for state police.
Adaramodu said the administrative structure of the FCT differs fundamentally from that of Nigeria’s 36 states, as the territory is headed by a minister who operates under the Federal Executive Council.
According to him, the National Assembly also exercises legislative powers over the FCT, unlike the states, which have governors and Houses of Assembly.
“The FCT issue is different. It is under the Federal Government. Again, the FCT does not have a governor. It is run by a minister who subscribes to the Federal Executive Council,” he said.
He added that the FCT does not have its own legislative assembly because legislative powers over the territory are exercised by the National Assembly.
“So, the federal capital does not have an assembly. It is the National Assembly that legislates for the FCT. This is why it can’t be different from what the Federal Government does. Therefore, the federal police are in charge,” Adaramodu said.
The clarification comes amid ongoing moves by the Federal Government to reform Nigeria’s policing system and establish a decentralised policing structure following growing calls for state police.
The Presidency had announced that President Bola Tinubu was expected to receive the draft Executive National Policing Bill on September 3 as part of efforts to overhaul the country’s policing architecture.
The Chief of Staff to the President and Chairman of the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill, Femi Gbajabiamila, disclosed this after a meeting of the group at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Gbajabiamila also unveiled a public information portal through which Nigerians can submit memoranda and position papers to contribute to the proposed legislation before it is considered by the President and transmitted to the National Assembly.
While the proposed constitutional amendments would provide the legal basis for state police, the Executive Bill is expected to establish the operational framework for implementing the new policing system.
The proposed arrangement has also sparked debate over the funding and administration of state police.
Under the constitutional amendments, state Houses of Assembly would have powers to legislate on the establishment, organisation, administration, funding and oversight of state police.
States would bear the primary responsibility for funding their police forces, while the Federal Government could provide grants or other forms of assistance.
A proposed Section 216A provides that the Federal Government may provide grants or aid to state police on the recommendation of the National Police Council, subject to approval by the National Assembly.
However, the provision does not specify a minimum federal contribution, funding formula or guaranteed revenue stream for state police.
The proposed arrangement would therefore leave states with the main financial responsibility for their police forces, while federal assistance would depend on recommendations by the National Police Council and approval by the National Assembly.
The FCT would remain outside the proposed state police arrangement under its current constitutional structure, according to Adaramodu.
As the proposed policing framework undergoes further harmonisation and legislative processes, the FCT’s policing structure is expected to remain linked to its unique status as a federal territory directly administered by the Federal Government.
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