Nwankwo: No Need to Rush State Police Bill Passage Before 2027 Polls
Executive Director of the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre, and a leading voice in Nigerian civil society advocacy, Mr. Clement Nwankwo, in this interview raises critical issues regarding preparations for
Nigerian civil society advocate, Clement Nwankwo, has cautioned against rushing the passage of the state police bill before the 2027 elections. Nwankwo, who is the Executive Director of the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre, emphasized that safeguards for human rights and citizen protection should be given absolute priority in the creation of state police.
He highlighted the disappointment in the National Assembly's slow progress on the Special Seats Bill for women's representation, which is seen as more urgent than state police. Nwankwo also expressed concerns about the potential abuse of state police, citing instances where police have acted in support of specific political parties.
Safeguards suggested by Nwankwo include limiting operational command to the federal government, independent funding of state police, and strong accountability mechanisms to prevent misuse and ensure police actions are in line with legal and constitutional standards.
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