The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC)/Transparency International Nigeria has warned that the proposed State Police framework could become a vehicle for political intimidation and abuse of power unless stronger constitutional safeguards are built into the legislation before its final ratification.
The anti-corruption and governance advocacy group expressed concern that state-controlled police formations may be vulnerable to manipulation by governors and other political actors, potentially threatening democratic freedoms, electoral integrity, and citizens’ rights.
In a statement signed by its Executive Director and Head of Transparency International Nigeria, Comrade Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, CISLAC said the success of state policing would depend less on its creation and more on the strength of accountability mechanisms designed to prevent misuse.
The organisation cautioned that without operational independence and effective oversight, state police could be deployed to harass political opponents, intimidate journalists and civil society actors, suppress dissenting voices, and influence elections.
CISLAC noted that while decentralised policing may improve local intelligence gathering and response to security threats, the reform must not merely transfer policing powers from Abuja to state capitals without adequate checks and balances.
The group therefore called for independent State Police Service Commissions, transparent recruitment processes, enforceable disciplinary measures, robust human rights protections, and clear oversight structures capable of preventing abuse.
It also advocated mandatory audits, transparent procurement systems, and national standards governing recruitment, training, operations, and accountability across all states.
According to Rafsanjani, security reforms must strengthen democratic governance rather than concentrate more power in the hands of political office holders.
“State policing holds immense potential to enhance local responsiveness to insecurity, but without ironclad safeguards, it risks becoming a new frontier for abuse and fragmentation,” he said.
CISLAC urged State Houses of Assembly, governors, and the Presidency to address the identified gaps during the ratification process to ensure the reform serves citizens rather than political interests.
