N’Assembly Working Out Funding Formula for State Police — Kalu

The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has assured Nigerians that the National Assembly is developing a sustainable funding framework for the proposed state police, insisting that financing will not prevent the reform from becoming a reality.

Kalu gave the assurance on Friday while briefing journalists in Abuja after returning from a week-long engagement at Chatham House and the London Climate Action Week in the United Kingdom.

His remarks come amid growing concerns over whether state governments would have the financial capacity to establish and maintain independent police formations if the constitutional amendment creating state police is eventually passed.

Addressing the concerns, the Deputy Speaker said lawmakers were already working on mechanisms to guarantee adequate and sustainable funding for the proposed policing system.

“We are looking at how to make sure that funding will not be a problem with regard to state policing because, as you know, it is like taking some of the responsibility of the Federal Government for the states to handle,” he said.

Kalu argued that President Bola Tinubu’s administration had significantly increased federal allocations to state governments, providing them with greater financial capacity to assume additional responsibilities.

“It is important to note that this current administration, which believes in federalism, has released more money to the states than ever before. So it wouldn’t be out of place if Mr President says, ‘I’m already sending the states a lot of money. Part of it should be used for this,’” he stated.

He added that the National Assembly was exploring additional funding options to ensure the long-term viability of state police.

According to him, legislators have continued consultations despite being on recess to strengthen the legal framework for the proposed policing structure.

Kalu also dismissed concerns that governors could misuse state police to intimidate political opponents, saying the proposed constitutional amendment contains safeguards to prevent abuse.

He explained that the draft legislation clearly defines the powers, duties and responsibilities of state police while prescribing national minimum operational standards that every state police service must meet.

The Deputy Speaker further disclosed that once the constitutional amendment is passed, the National Assembly would repeal and re-enact the Police Act to provide a comprehensive legal framework for state police operations.

He also maintained that Nigeria’s security situation was improving, citing reductions in insurgent-controlled territories and increased defence funding under the current administration as evidence of ongoing progress.