The National Economic Council (NEC) has given four states—Kwara, Sokoto, Kebbi, and Adamawa, along with the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), until Monday, September 9, to submit their reports on the establishment of State police.
The deadline was issued today (Wednesday, September 4) at the 143rd National Economic Council (NEC) meeting, presided over by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the State House Council Chambers in Abuja.
This directive came in the wake of President Bola Tinubu’s endorsement of State police as a measure to combat escalating insecurity across Nigeria.
Acting Oyo State Governor, Bayo Lawal, who briefed State House Correspondents alongside his colleagues, revealed that these States must submit their reports by Monday, September 9, 2024, warning that if they fail to comply, they will be subject to the NEC’s decisions regarding state police, which are aimed at enhancing security nationwide.
Lawal emphasised the urgency of the situation, highlighting the widespread security challenges affecting various regions, including the Northeast and North central.
“An update on the establishment of State police was considered and this is as a result of the security situation challenges that we have across the nation – in the North East, North Central, North West, South East, South South and South West.
“(For the purpose of having) robustt security in our nation, sometime last year, NEC considered the establishment of state police and asked states to make submissions for consideration.
“Today, all the States were supposed to submit for consideration by the NEC. Incidentally, four states couldn’t submit,” he explained.
Lawal stressed that the decisions of the Council on the establishment of State Police will be binding including on the four states if they fail to submit their considerable reports on state police.
“NEC decided that those states must make their submissions on or before Monday 9th September otherwise whatever decision NEC takes on the establishment of State police is binding on those states that refuse to make submissions,” he said.
It would be recalled that President Bola Tinubu had, on Thursday, February 15, 2024, agreed on the need to establish state police as recommended by state governors to curb insecurity in the country.
The NEC had previously called for submissions from all states to facilitate discussions on this critical issue, but the noncompliance by these four states prompted the current ultimatum.
