The National Economic Council (NEC) has given all states until September 9, 2024, to make their stand known on the establishment of State Police.
NEC gave the deadline on Wednesday at its meeting chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima.
Briefing State House Correspondents not long after the meeting held at the Council Chamber of the State House Abuja, the Acting Governor of Oyo State, Bayo Lawal, said out of the 36 states, 4 states were yet to make submissions to NEC on their stands.
As indicated by Lawal, NEC directed that the four states should make their stance on the issue known by Monday.
While the four states were not called out during the briefing, NEC insisted that after Monday, any listed which neglected to make submission would have no choice than to acknowledge whatever choice is reached ultimately.
The most recent couple of years have been overwhelmed with talks about state police, with some leaders, including Lead Representatives and regional socio-political groups such as Afenifere and Ohanaeze Ndigbo, saying it would control the threatening pattern of abduction, banditry, and various crimes.
The calls for the establishment of state police prompted President Bola Tinubu and Lead Representatives of the 36 states to reach an agreement in mid-February 2024.
They agreed on state police as a method to checkmate the heightening security challenges in the nation.
A month after the agreement, 16 Lead Representatives presented their reports to the National Economic Council (NEC), communicating their support for the establishment of state police and the amendment of the 1999 Constitution to consider something similar.
From that point forward, more states have additionally tabled their positions on the issue, excluding only four states yet to make their own entries.
However, numerous individuals and groups have called for the establishment of state police, the proposition has faced a few criticisms from certain quarters.
A few persons accept that funding could be really difficult for state police as certain Lead Representatives would request an upward review of monthly allocations to their states.
Others have additionally contended that state Lead Representatives would use the state police to hound their political adversaries.
