THOUGHTS AND PERSPECTIVES ON POLICE FEDERALISM

CASE FOR STATE POLICE IN NIGERIA

Abstract

This paper reflects on the concept of police federalism and interrogates the need to completely overhaul the task of policing in Nigeria and modalities for states in the federation to have state police. Using largely documentary instrument and projectile technique for data generation and analysis respectively, the paper explores and appraises views canvassed for and against police federalism in Nigeria. It identifies the need for programmes in human development, sustainable re-equipment, social repositioning and administrative restructuring. Against the backdrop of the central focus of the discourse, the paper points to the urgent need to initiate and complete holistic restructuring of the task of policing within the context of the Nigerian federation. In addition, the paper posits that to make policing effective, or police function better, there is need to completely overhaul various aspects of policing in Nigeria particularly the inherited colonial structural framework. Accordingly, the paper recommends complete overhaul that must necessarily entail substantial decentralization and constitutional empowerment of the states of the federation to create and sustain own police service so as to ensure effective enforcement of laws and order in the respective states.