*20 states get ultimatum to submit report.
States are slowing down the take-off of state police, the Federal Government said yesterday.
Frowning at the snail-like speed by the National Economic Council’s (NEC) Ad-hoc Committee on State Policing Initiative, Vice President Kashim Shettima observed that responses by some governors were not impressive.
Although President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and 36 governors resolved to set in motion the machinery for the state policing model a month ago, only 16 states have shown a positive response.
Yesterday, during the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting, the Vice President, who chairs that organ of government, urged the remaining 20 governors to submit their proposals during next month’s NEC meeting.
The President and governors opted for state police following the increasing wave of insecurity – banditry, kidnappings, killings and other forms of violence – across the country.
Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Kwara State Governor Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq, reiterated the governors’ commitment to the proposed policing agenda.
He said they believed state policing was capable of correcting existing fundamental flaws in the security framework.
AbdulRazaq also said the NGF believes that the proposed constitution amendment should address state police.
Shettima and AbdulRazaq spoke during the 140th NEC meeting, which was held virtually.
Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, who made a presentation on the progress being made on the initiative, said the responses from the states fell below expectations.
His report showed that the states that have submitted their reports recommended changes in the constitution to give legal backing to the proposals.
Reviewing the states’ responses, Shettima gave the remaining 20 states an ultimatum to speed up their action on the matter.
A statement by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Office of the Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha, said Shettima expressed dissatisfaction about the delay.
“While noting the presentation, the Vice President observed that the rate of submissions by states was not impressive and urged states yet to make input to expedite action to enable robust deliberations on the subject matter at the next Council meeting”, the statement said.
According to the communique at the end of the meeting, the governors “highlighted the need for state policing as a critical amendment in the ongoing 1999 Constitution amendment proceedings to correct fundamental flaws in the national security architecture.”
AbdulRazaq also presented a report by NEC’s Ad-hoc Committee on Economic Affairs, which was mandated to develop a feasible and effective roadmap for addressing economic issues affecting Nigerians at the national and sub-national levels to avert potential economic and socio-political crisis.
Also, the NEC Ad-hoc Committee on Crude Oil Theft Prevention and Control, headed by Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, presented an abridged update on its assignment.
Uzodimma said the committee met, had far-reaching deliberations and deployed appropriate technologies for data collection, adding that the full report would be presented at the next NEC meeting.
Also, NEC received a report on the Ease of Doing Business Reforms by the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), commending the work done so far by its secretariat.
It noted the need for states to commence preparations for the 2025 sub-national ranking for ease of doing business in Nigeria.
NEC also directed its ad hoc committee on economic affairs to work with the Federal Ministry of Finance and come up with an appropriate approach to averting risks associated with loan facilities from development partners.
