State police: NEC gives four states, FCT Sept. 9 deadline to submit reports

"Lawal noted that the decisions of the Council on the establishment of state police will be binding, including the four states, if they fail to submit their considerable reports on state police"

Samuel AkpanSeptember 4, 20241 Mins read1k

The National Economic Council (NEC) has given four states—Kwara, Sokoto, Kebbi, and Adamawa—along with the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Monday, September 9 ultimatum to make their submissions on the establishment of state police.

The deadline was issued 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 follows President Bola Tinubu’s endorsement of state police as a measure to combat escalating insecurity across the country.

Acting Oyo State Governor Bayo Lawal, who briefed State House correspondents after the meeting, disclosed that the shortlisted states must submit their reports by Monday, September 9.

Lawal pointed out the urgency of the situation, highlighting the widespread security challenges affecting various regions, including the Northeast and Northcentral.

He said: “An update on the establishment of state police was considered, and this was as a result of the security situation challenges that we have across the nation in Northeast, Northcentral, Southwest, Southeast, and Southsouth.

“So that we would have a robust security in our nation, for that purpose sometimes last year NEC considered the establishment of state police and asked states to make submissions of considerations.

“Today all the states were supposed to submit for consideration of the NEC; incidentally, four states couldn’t submit.”

Lawal pointed out that if the four states fail to submit their reports on state police, the Council’s decisions on the establishment of state police will become binding.

He added: “NEC decided that those states must make their submissions on or before Monday, September 9th; otherwise, whatever decision NEC takes on the establishment of state police is binding on those states that refuse to make submissions.”

Persecondnews recalls that President Tinubu had agreed on the need to establish state police on February 15, 2024, 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 of these four states had prompted the current ultimatum.