Ndume: I Support State Police, But I’m Not Comfortable With Senate Rushing To Pass Presidential Bills

The senator representing Borno South under the All Progressives Congress, (APC), and the former Senate Chief Whip, Senator Ali Ndume, has declared his support for the passed state police bill, but maintained that the Senate should have devoted more time to deliberations before advancing the legislation.

This comes after the Senate passed the bill to establish State Police in Nigeria on Wednesday.

Speaking with ARISE NEWS on Wednesday, the lawmaker described the Senate as a “House of Deliberation” and stressed that senators are expected to critically examine and thoroughly debate major legislative proposals before taking decisions on them.

“I support the state creation wholeheartedly. But the Senate is supposed to be very matured enough and looking at things critically. I’m not comfortable with just the President bringing up anything and we are checking and rushing to pass it,” he stated.

Adding, he said: “The other name of Senate literally is the House of Deliberation. We are elders, because senators are supposed to be elders, and are supposed to look out for any idea, look out and analyze it, and deliberate properly.”

Senator Ndume also agreed with suggestions that some lawmakers may be overly eager to align with the President’s position, responding, “Which is true,” when asked whether such pressure could affect legislative scrutiny.

The senator, however, said concerns remained over the operational framework of state police, including funding, jurisdiction and coordination among state commands, stressing that such issues would require careful consideration before implementation.

“I voted for the bill. My major concern, not from my aspect as a senator, is the intricacies, the implications, the law, the legal aspect. How do you synchronize it? How do you source their funds? You know, how do they operate?”, he quizzed.

In the fight against insecurity, Ndume further argued that state police should be seen as one component of broader security reforms rather than a standalone solution, insisting that improving security and citizens’ welfare remains the government’s primary constitutional responsibility.

“I agree with that, that this is supposed to be a component of a larger security reform. But going by what government is supposed to be, and that is what the constitution says, specifically Section 14(2) of our constitution says the main purpose of government—and that is to say the existence of government—is for security and welfare of its citizens.

“The major problem we have in this country now is security and welfare of citizens. So if government is going to put everything, its energy, I am in support of that,” he insisted.

Responding to concerns over implementation, Senator Ndume argued that state police should not be dismissed before it is established.

“I disagree. We have not even done it, and how can you say it’s not working or it’s not going to work? That is a pessimistic view. We’re talking about establishing a state police under unified command, improving on what we have on the ground.”

Addressing fears that governors could weaponise state police against political opponents, the lawmaker acknowledged the concern but argued that similar powers already exist under the current centralised security structure and insisted that adequate safeguards could prevent abuse.

“Like the Nigerian Police Force we have, and the Nigerian Army, DSS, and everybody is under the CNC, and that’s the President. Can you say he’s abusing it? My colleagues have expressed that fear too, that if you create a state police under the state governor, once the governor does not like you, he will call the Police Commissioner there and say, ‘Kai, go and pick Charles and lock him up till next month.’ And you’ll be there locked up till next month because if he doesn’t comply, another new Commissioner will be taken over from you. But it doesn’t work that way,” he assured.

Speaking further on concerns over political abuse of state police, Ndume said lawmakers had discussed the need for safeguards to prevent governors from using the outfit against political opponents, journalists and critics, adding that experts and security professionals would be consulted in designing the framework.

“That is what we discussed even today in the Senate. We said we have to put safety valves. And that is why the professionals, those that have experience,” he noted.

Drawing from Borno State’s experience with insurgency, Senator Ndume argued that decentralised policing could strengthen local security efforts, citing the role played by the Civilian JTF and other community-based security outfits in supporting the military against insurgents.

“State police would have prevented some of the tragedies we’ve endured. As it is now, CRAC in Borno is one of the most effective. And then we have the Civilian JTF— they are working, they are very effective, they are complementing the soldiers.

“So once you expand the, the armed forces or the security agencies in the country, while right now there are some villages you don’t have a police station, talk less of having a police, if you have a state police, we assume that in every local government headquarters, at least there must be a DPO there. And that means you have security. And at least you have 20 to 30 people in that place. That means you have 20 to 30 people with AK-47s. That means you have 20 to 30 people every day to defend that locality. That has been proven,” he explained.

Advocating for the eventual creation of local government police, Ndume argued that expanding community-based policing would strengthen security coverage.

“I’m advocating not only state police. There should be local government police, or county police, like abroad.”

Adding, he also expressed confidence that the state police initiative would succeed if properly implemented.

“I’m hoping that the President, who has been nursing, who has been supporting this idea for a very long time, will see it work under his leadership. And he will go down in history, especially if it works. It will work well,” he assured.

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