We have not taken position on state police - NGF
Nigerian Governors have not taken a position on whether or not to establish state police across the country.
Ekiti state governor, Kayode Fayemi gave the indication while addressing journalists at the end of Friday’s expanded security meeting held at the presidential villa Abuja.
Fayemi said governors have not been involved in the matter because they have not taken a decision at Nigeria governors forum level.
Governor Fayemi was reacting to the recommendation of the Presidential panel on the reform of the special anti-robbery squad SARS which suggested the establishment of state police with the consent of president Muhammadu Buhari who in response set up another committee to look into its implementation.
He said the forum of governors is currently reviewing the matter with the view to taking a decision on it.
Fayemi said there are different experiences in different states over state police, adding that the question of whether they support the move would be taken during a meeting of the national economic council.
He said the meeting was at the instance of the governors of the 36 states of the federation, exclusively to discuss the security situation in the country.
According to him, it was to keep the president abreast of the enormity of challenges of rural banditry, farmers/herders clashes, kidnapping, militancy in the Delta, insurgency, and cultism facing citizens of the country.
The governor said that the meeting also reviewed Nigeria's criminal justice system that appears to give some room for impunity with the president agreeing to work with the state chief executives to address questions of intelligence, broadening community policing, ensuring inter-service coordination among the various security agencies and strengthening the criminal justice system.
The governor briefed alongside Ebonyi state governor, David Umahi, Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi state, Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta state, Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo state, Simon Lalong of plateau state and Babagana Zulum of Borno state.
We have not taken position on state police - NGF