The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, has declared that state police cannot function effectively without the removal of federal control.
Obasa, who spoke on Tuesday during plenary, insisted that any constitutional provision retaining federal dominance over state policing would defeat the purpose of the reform.
He said removing federal control was necessary to ensure that state police function effectively, adding that the introduction of state police would help decentralise Nigeria’s security architecture.
However, he faulted the proposed constitutional amendment for failing to resolve fundamental questions surrounding operational control, warning that it still concentrated substantial powers at the centre.
According to him, true federalism requires states to have full authority over the management of their security systems.
The speaker spoke as the Lagos State House of Assembly formally endorsed the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Sixth Alteration Bill, 2026, transmitted to state assemblies by the Clerk of the National Assembly for ratification in line with Section 9(2) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
Obasa said the proposed amendment was a step forward but expressed concern that the interests and positions of state assemblies had not been adequately addressed.
He said, “Even though we are happy that we are having state police, our interests and positions have not been well taken care of in this alteration. You would realise that the major control still lies at the centre.
“There is a provision that says where there is a conflict between the State Assembly and National Assembly, the federal prevails. But it is still a step forward. I want to believe that there is hope in the future that will give total control to the state.”