Debate on State Police to Highlight Abuja Event

The discussion about state police in Nigeria will take the spotlight in Abuja on Tuesday, 6 October. The House of Representatives Press Corps is bringing together policymakers, lawmakers, security experts, and other key players to look into this proposed change.

This talk will be the main feature of the second annual Distinguished Parliamentarian Lecture and Awards hosted by the corps.

The event, titled "The Imperative for State Police: Securing Communities, Strengthening Federalism," will kick off at 10:00 a.m. at the National Assembly Library Auditorium in Abuja.

This lecture comes shortly after the Constitution Alteration Bill was sent to the 36 State Houses of Assembly for their input. The bill aims to create State Police Services.

The proposed amendment wants to decentralise policing. It will let states set up and run their own police forces. Supporters believe this could help local communities respond better to security challenges.

Nnadubem Moghalu, who is the secretary of the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill and Senior Special Assistant to the President on Planning and Research, will give the lecture. He will talk about "State Police, Community Security and the Future of Federalism in Nigeria."

His talk will look into the new policing structure and what it means for community safety, federalism, and how state and federal security agencies will work together.

The discussion will also cover funding, recruitment, training, independence, accountability, and oversight. They will discuss ways to prevent abuse of power by state-controlled police.

Some notable speakers and participants at the event include Niger State Governor Mohammed Bago, Government Ekpemupolo, known as Tompolo, who is the founder and Chairman of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Ltd, and former Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Ndudi Elumelu.

Bago and Ekpemupolo will share views on state governance and community safety, especially about protecting important national assets.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, will host the event. He is expected to speak on the House's stance on state police and other security laws being discussed in the National Assembly.

The Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, will also be there.

Other important guests include the Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Akin Rotimi, and Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, FCT Council, Grace Ike. Representatives from the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation, Nigerian Communications Commission, and development partners will also attend.

The event will also feature the presentation of the House of Representatives Press Corps Distinguished Parliamentarian Awards. Governor Bago will get an award for his work in rural development and public leadership. Tompolo will receive an Award of Excellence for his efforts in protecting national assets.

Gboyega Onadiran, Chairman of the House of Representatives Press Corps, said this annual lecture aims to provide a space for meaningful discussions on important national issues. He added that focusing on state police this year highlights its importance for Nigeria's security and the overall discussion about policing and federalism.

Onadiran mentioned that the press corps wants to encourage interaction between the legislature, security sector, media, and the public on major national matters.