Governments of Benue, Plateau and Nasarawa states have once again raised concerns over the delay in establishing state police, electoral reforms, and true federalism.
The clamour took the centre stage at the North Central Zone B public hearing on the review of the 1999 Constitution, organised by the House of Representatives Committee, held in Lafia, Nasarawa State capital.
The hearing brought together key stakeholders from Benue, Plateau, Nasarawa states, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), with governors of the three states firmly backing the decentralisation of policing to tackle the persistent security challenges facing the region.
Ahmed Wase, Chairman of the hearing and former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, assured participants that their voices would be reflected in the constitutional amendment process.
Represented by the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Fidelis Mnyim, Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State, in his presentation, maintained that State Police was long overdue, lamenting that the absence of State Police has been responsible for the failure to implement the anti-open grazing law enacted by the government properly.
“A governor cannot command any of the security agencies or deploy them to troubled areas. For instance, we have an anti-open grazing law in Benue, but we cannot implement it because the governor is said to be the Chief Security Officer, but to the contrary, cannot direct the police even on arrest,” he said.
In his presentation, Plateau state governor, Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau, represented by his Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Philemon Daffi, declared that Plateau is in full support of State Police.
“We support it because it will go a long way in tackling the perennial insecurity in the state.
“No state in the country has suffered insecurity like Plateau State. And so, we are for State Police, and we want other security agencies to be added as well,” he stated.
On electoral reform, the Plateau State governor said they were opposed to the conduct of local council elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), instead of the state’s independent electoral commission.
He also advocates for the separation of the office of the Attorney General and the Minister/Commissioner for Justice.
In his presentation, Abdullahi Sule, Nasarawa State Governor, said it was high time the State Police was established to give states the mandate to protect their people directly.
Speaking on electoral reforms, Sule, represented by his Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barrister. Isaac Danladi called for the establishment of an agency separate from INEC, responsible for the registration and regulation of political parties.
“INEC will be freed from the enormous responsibility it currently carries to concentrate on conducting effective and transparent elections.”
The governor advocated for the establishment of the Electoral Offences Commission by an Act of the National Assembly, instead of going through a constitutional amendment.
He also called for the conduct of all elections in a single day, arguing that it would reduce cost and address the problem of voter apathy and fatigue.
Sule, however, opposed the idea of independent candidates, insisting that “It will create chaos and be cumbersome for INEC to coordinate the candidates.
