*IGP Kayode Egbetokun
The National Economic Council (NEC) rose from its monthly meeting on Thursday with a disclosure that most of the 36 state governors have endorsed the creation of state police in the country.
NEC has scheduled to consider the submissions by the state governors on the creation of state police during its next meeting in January, 2025.
Briefing newsmen at the end of NEC’s 147th meeting presided over by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the State House, Abuja,
Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, explained that majority of State governors were in agreement with the creation of State Police because of the security challenges in their various states.
The governor also disclosed that it was only the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) that was yet to make submission on the matter.
According to him: “Today (Thursday), one of the discussions we had at the NEC meeting was the update on the creation of state police. As you are aware, there was a submission by States toward the establishment of state police.
“Today, about 36 states have already made their submission for establishing state police in Nigeria. And I can say here that from what is available, virtually most of the states are in agreement with the establishment of state police in Nigeria.
“But today, the council decided to step down the discussion until the next council meeting, because we need to come up with a report from the secretariat. And after the report, there will be deliberation at the next NEC meeting that is likely taking place in January.
“And not only that, there’s also a resolution in the last NEC meeting, which today the Secretariat has also agreed on that there will be further stakeholder engagement after the panel and deliberation by the members of the NEC.
“So, all we are saying here is that 36 states have made their own submission, and many states are in agreement for the establishment of state police, considering the fact that virtually every state has their peculiarity in terms of the problem of insecurity we are having in our own states.
“Knowing fully well that we have a lot of ungoverned space in Nigeria, and also that we have a lot of deficit in terms of number of boots on ground, looking at the fact that a lot of security agencies, the police, the army and other relevant security agencies have no personnel to cover all the government space, that is the reason why most of us agreed that establishment of state police in Nigeria is the way forward toward addressing the problem insecurity in our own country.”
Also speaking to reporters, Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State said that NEC approved 0.05% from non oil federation revenue based on the proposed tax reform to fund the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC).
He said, “Among the issues discussed at today’s NEC was also the presentation of a report in respect of an earlier presentation by the chairman of the Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission to NEC on the 21st of November, and seeking essentially revised or repeal the existing Act of Parliament establishing the commission and to replace it with a new one, and then also seeking for revision, I mean a review about alternative funding to the institution.
“So the report elaborately noted the very onerous responsibilities of RMAFC
and as a very, very beautiful institution in the functioning of federation, and noted the inadequate funding for this institution to be able to perform its tasks.
“And then also noted the draft repeal and replace legislation that
was also pending And after deliberating,this, the council noted thus and approved as follows. First is that RMAFC Should forward the draft bill to the National Assembly for consideration and passage into law.
“And second, the council also approved the recommendation for improved funding for RMAFC and approved that the commission be funded with 0.05% non oil federation revenue based on the proposed tax reforms and subjected to further scrutiny by the National Assembly.
“I know the Commission had requested for 0.75 percent but in the wisdom of NEC, it was … 0.05 percent of course, subject to review by the National Assembly.”
On his part, Governor Babajide Sanwo-olu of Lagos State while briefing said the Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy made a presentation for the establishment of historic sites to be named Renewed Hope Creative Villages.
According to him, “The whole idea is for the ministry to be able to work first, with a lot of the sub nationals to identify some of these sites and identify some of these very historic locations, and see how they are adopted, into the creative villages, as a one stop shop.
“We’ve talked about the enormous opportunity that are bound in the creative industry, especially with our rural historic sites and with our monuments. So the whole idea around the presentation was for the ministry to put it at the front burner and for the sub nationals to be able to work with them identify various sites that can become what we call thriving.
“We know that sector has the potential of giving hundreds and thousands of jobs.”
Also briefing, Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, disclosed that the indebtedness of States to the Federal Government stands at N16.6 billion.
According to him, the Excess Crude Account as at December 10, was $424 million, Stabilisation account, N33.3 billion, while natural resources account was N23 billion.
“Also reported as regards the surpluses that states have with the federal government, that figure is currently 363.4 billion naira, while the state deficit position with the federal government, stands at approximately N16.6 billion”.///
Govs Endorse Creation of State Police to check insecurity
