…Calls for Three Tiers of Government-FG, Regions, States, Scrapping of LGs

…Fear of Abuse of State Police by Governors Misplaced…El-Rufai

…Only Functional, Autonomous LG Can Tackle Insecurity, Poverty, Electoral Malpractices, Youth Restiveness…NULGE President

Despite deafening calls for decentralising of policing and the creation of State and Local Government Police, Elder Statesman, Malam Tanko Yakasai has warned against the idea, arguing that it will undermine the country’s democracy. In what may further stir the hornet nest, he also called for the scrapping of the local governments and the institution of three tiers of government-Federal, Regional and State Governments rather than the two tiers that have been canvassed by many.

“I’m for the retention of the current police structure and control. Creation of State Police will create confusion in this country. It will destroy our democracy,” says Yakasai, a former presidential liason to President Shehu Shagari in the Second Republic.

Speaking on Thursday in Kaduna, at the North West Zonal Public Hearing on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, the renowned politician who’s a founding member of Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), contends that, “If State Police is created, it will be an opportunity for abuse, to oppress opponents and prevent the opposition parties from operating.”

“We’ve already lost confidence in the conduct of local government elections. We are likely to lose confidence in the State Police because of their possible excesses,”

Many Nigerians including Governors have however, demanded for the setting up of State Police, positing that the country has many ungoverned spaces which have been taken over by bandits and undesirable elements. They also say it will strengthen the powers of the states to effectively deal with crime at a time when the country is facing serious security challenges.

Making a strong case for devolution of powers and the creation of State Police at the event on Wednesday, Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai says, “The reality of our security situation today requires that Nigeria must strengthen its military and security agencies. This includes decentralizing the Police to enable the states to exercise effective control in securing their residents and communities.

“The challenges of these times conclusively demonstrate that centralized policing arrangements are grossly inaccurate. We need to have Federal, State and Community Police, with each granted sufficient powers to make them effective in securing the areas assigned to them and cooperating closely with each other.

“Nigeria has many ungoverned spaces and increasingly brazen criminal elements. Our security agencies need a surge in numbers, equipment, and technology, as well as structure.”

He argues that, “Those expressing concerns about the ability of the states to bear the. cost of policing should realize that apart from the payment of salaries by the Federal Government, most of the operational and capital costs of the Nigeria Police are borne by State and Local Governments. These include vehicles, fuel, construction of Police stations, provision of communications equipment and overheads.”

Responding to Yakasai’s fears about abuse of the Police by State Governors, El-Rufai says this is misplaced.

“The fear of abuse of State Police by sub-national governments is misplaced for at least two reasons – the levels of insecurity across the country and the near helplessness of the Police makes addressing the need to put more Police officers on the ground a greater priority than any other thing. Furthermore, a constitutional or statutory framework can be enacted to ensure federal intervention in egregious cases of abuse of police power by State Governors,” he quips.

The Kaduna State helmsman says, “As Governors, we are also acutely aware that unless we support devolution from federal to state to local governments, with adequate safeguards that guarantee the functioning of our democracy, our country will continue to be a nation of potential instead of attaining the greatness, prosperity and progress that our human, material and endowments promise our citizens.”

Stressing that devolution of powers to the sub units could be a panacea for better governance, the Kaduna State Governor however does not think this will solve all the problems of the country

“I am of the strong conviction that we need to devolve powers in our country to re-balance our federation for better governance. But I do not share the view that restructuring or devolution is a silver bullet that will solve all our problems overnight, given the gravity of our multi-pronged challenges.

“Adjustments to our Constitution will not solve all our problems as a nation. However, it will help us solve some immediate problems, and provide a platform for future leaders to resolve the medium- and longer-term issues. The limitations imposed by the current structure are obvious and we should all be eager to overcome them.

While calling for scrapping of the local governments and the institution of three tiers of government-FG, Regional and State, Yakasai wants the present local government funds to be used for supporting the new regional governments to be created.

“There should be three tiers of government-FG, Regional and States. The local governments should be abolished. Money for the local governments should be used to fund the regional structure,” he says.

But President, National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Mr Hakeem Ambali who faulted Yakasai’s position, says, “It does not reflect the genuine interest of most Nigerians and appears diversionary and not in tune with realities on ground as a way to resolving the myriads of problems confronting Nigeria like issues of security, poverty, electoral malpractices, youth restiveness that can only be addressed through a functional, autonomous and people driven governance of inclusiveness.”

Noting that the first Federal Constitution of October 1960 never recognised States as one of Nigeria’s federating units, Ambali stated that, “The popular support through responsive and responsible submissions of enviable patriotic leaders of Nigeria in support of Local Government autonomy, underscore the importance of both political and financial autonomy for Local Government at the public hearing across the country as the best solution to Nigeria’s problem as a nation.”

“We therefore enjoin all Patriotic Nigerians to remain resolute in defence of Local Government Autonomy to save Nigeria as a nation……Local Government autonomy is a democratic right of Nigerian people

“What is the significant difference in the modus operandi of State and Regional Governments to the average Nigerian? The most strategic, most relevant and closest tier of government to the people is the Local Governments. Even in the UK, we only have federal and Local Governments without any state Government in place as an advanced democracy,” he says.

A total of 77 memoranda were submitted by different groups, states and emirates to the National Assembly from the North West Zone, according to the Chairman of the event, Senator Kabiru Gaya, who’s also chairman of the Senate Committee on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Electoral Matters.

Gaya, also a former Kano State Governor, assured participants that the Senate Committee charged with the review of the Constitution will reflect on all presentations and memoranda, disclosing that the zonal public hearing which was novel was undertaken by the 9^th Senate to ensure that the amendments are products of the people’s views.

He reveals that once the Senate and the House of Representatives strike amity on the areas to be amended, the amendments will be sent to the 36 States Houses of Assembly to endorse by two thirds majority.