FCT should not be excluded from state police – ex-DIG Adeoye

Retired Deputy Inspector-General of Police Adedayo Adeoye contends that Nigeria must adopt state policing, with the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) being included in the arrangement. Adeoye asserts that state policing is essential for the security of the nation, as it allows for a better understanding of local culture, language, and customs.

He believes that state policing should be controlled by governors, with the Police Service Commission and the judiciary acting as a check when disagreements arise between the governor and the police. Adeoye recommends a single Police Service Commission for all states and the federal police, with the police commission handling officer-related cases while the Commissioner of Police manages other ranks and files.

He also suggests that state police officers should have a minimum qualification of SSCE, with further training available at joint state-run training schools. The funding of state police should primarily come from the Consolidated Revenue Fund, with states supplementing their funding using their security votes. Adeoye argues that the existing mechanisms for police accountability should be maintained, and that the system can learn from other federal or decentralized policing systems, such as those in Canada and India.