Agbakoba advocates constitutional safeguards for proposed state police
via Punch Nigeria10 min read
Dr Olisa Agbakoba, former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, has urged the Federal Government to constitutionally protect state police and other key public institutions from executive interference. In a letter dated June 26, 2026, addressed to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Dr George Akume, Agbakoba welcomed President Bola Tinubu’s Executive Bill to amend Section 214 of the 1999 Constitution for state police. However, he warned that without strong constitutional safeguards, state police could become an instrument of political oppression, similar to issues seen with State Independent Electoral Commissions and local governments. Agbakoba proposed adopting a model similar to South Africa's, where democratic institutions are constitutionally independent with security of tenure and guaranteed funding, accountable to Parliament rather than the executive. He suggested restructuring institutions like the Nigeria Police Force, INEC, EFCC, and the Central Bank of Nigeria to have similar protections, financial autonomy, and oversight by the National Assembly or state Houses of Assembly. He also proposed a constitutional framework for appointing and removing state police commanders, involving the Police Service Commission, the governor, and the state House of Assembly. Agbakoba further recommended devolving other responsibilities, such as driver's license issuance and prison administration, to subnational governments.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.
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