The Dynamics of Federalism in Nigeria by Ambrose Ihekwoaba Egwim

Author:Ambrose Ihekwoaba Egwim
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9783030491536
Publisher: Springer International Publishing

The constitutional conference of 1958 reached agreement on the provisions for one Police Force in the federation, headed by Inspector General of Police. The Police Force was administered by the Police Council formerly presided over by the Governor General or by a federal minister appointed on the advice of the Prime Minister (Awa 1964). This operational control of police continued to date; the only difference is changing ‘the Region’ to ‘the State,’ the ‘Prime Minister’ to ‘the President’ and the ‘Regional Premier’ to the ‘Governor of a state.’

Thus, the question of whether there should be state police in Nigeria is one of the most persistent issues in Nigeria federalism and has existed for as long as Nigeria has been an independent state. Some scholars and political leaders have found fought with this arrangement under the current debate on true federalism. According to Fashola, the former Governor of Lagos states: ‘the opposition to the establishment of state police structure in Nigeria has largely been driven by an exaggerated, misleading and unfounded precedent focusing on the abuse of state police through political interference and manipulation (Vanguard August 25, 2012: 11)’. Some political analysts, opinion leaders, and political leaders have argued based on K.C Wheare’s principle of federalism. According to Falana, Vanguard (August 25, 2012: 12), ‘the issue of establishing state police is not really about whether the country is ready for it or not. It is necessary in a federation.’ In that line Punch editorial (August 8, 2012: 18) argues that ‘Nigeria cannot re-invent the wheel; the reality is that a federation constitution compels state police.’ According to Sun editorial (July 1, 2012: 6), ‘the current domiciliation of police functions at the federal government level only, does not cohere with the federalism Nigeria practices.’ For this school of thought, regardless of the pros and cons of the debate on the creation of state police structure in Nigeria, their concern is on the nation’s match toward the much cherished true federalism define basically on principle enunciated by Wheare which according to them is a sine-qua-non to the genuine principle of true federalism.

Contrary views also exist that emphasize the sociological factors, peculiarities of the Nigerian environment. Putting into consideration the political climate operating in the country, the Ex-IGs (Punch August 15, 2012: 17) argue that the ‘state police would only be a tool in the hands of political leaders at the state level.’ Two divergent opinions have been expressed for and against the establishment of state police. Despite the attraction for state police, Etannibi Alemika (in Gana and Egwu 2003: xxiii) draws attention to the dangers of abuse when control is localized, as was the experience with the Native Authority police in erstwhile Northern Nigeria. In his opinion, what needs to be done is strengthening the existing mechanisms of control, as provided in the 1999 constitution, as in those of 1960 and 1963, that assigned the responsibility to a Police Council on which state governors are represented. There is a strong warning that local police units in colonial Nigeria, particularly in the North, were used to harass citizens.

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