Leg’ACE Communique from the National Security Conference on State Policing

The OrderPaper Leg’ACE community is willing to lend its expertise to the process of ensuring a unified policing system devoid of political, ethnic, and religious segregation and abuse of power.

The Legislative Accountability and Constituency Engagement Programme (Leg’ACE) followed up on its Active participation in governance by submitting a memorandum to the constitutional amendment committee and arbitration on March 26, 2024, on the State Police Bill ahead of the public hearing.

READ MORE: OrderPaper Leg’ACE engage NASS over State Police Bill

On Monday, April 22, 2024, the community attended the National Security Conference organised by the National Assembly with support from the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), UK International Development, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the Germany Cooperation Programme.

ACEs, meaning Active Citizens Engaging the Legislature, were represented by a delegation from the community including Nsikak Ekere, Josephine, Sabanor, Innocent Effiong, and Sodiq Fasasi.

The community is pleased with the well-coordinated event and gives kudos to H.E. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR President Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria, who was ably represented by his Deputy H.E. Kashim Shettima, GCON Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria; President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, CON, ably represented by his Deputy, Sen. Barau I. Jibrin, CON, alongside Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, Ph.D. Speaker, House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, and all the Principal Officers of the 10th House of Representatives.

Worthy of mention was the absence of the State Governors at a National Dialogue that concerns National security, especially the need for State Policing. The community thinks this is a flaw on the part of the state governors, especially as the matter at hand concerns their active cooperation and is unsure of their stance on the matter.

The House, in its legislative agenda, pushes for inclusion and open parliament. We think that the house should be very continuous in implementing this which was a flaw as it failed to make provisions for a sign interpreter for Persons Living with Disability (PLWDs).

Notably, the former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan, noted at the event that excessive piracy in the Niger Delta during the 1980s was reduced through the involvement of youth volunteers who partnered with the Nigeria Police at the time and mentioned that the issue of the State Police needs to be well integrated into our system.

How do we run the state police vis-à-vis the national security system? The architecture is only going to happen through our collective involvement and implementation of the Legislative Agenda Document, making conscious reference again to AGENDA: 6 INCLUSION AND OPEN PARLIAMENT, character 9.3. Open Parliament and Citizens Engagement,  

9. Establish formalised partnerships with NGOs, think tanks, and civil society organisations that promote accountability and public engagement without much talking, as rightly put during the panel session where the Oni-of Ife Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi declared: “Every discussion held here today has been geared in the same direction. Now, let’s stop talking and start working; it is our palace that is widely open, but you members of the National Assembly have police attached to you, so please, let’s get to work and solve this national crisis.”

In conclusion, our utmost priority should be taking an inclusive step in implementing the process to ensure a unified policing system devoid of political, ethnic, and religious segregation and abuse of power. The OrderPaper Leg’ACE community is willing to lend its expertise to this noble course of action.