The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, CISLAC/Transparency International Nigeria, has cautioned that the newly passed State Policing bill could entrench political abuse and inequality if stronger safeguards, funding, and accountability measures are not put in place.
In a statement signed by its Executive Director and Head of TI Nigeria, Comrade Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, on Thursday, June 26, 2026, CISLAC said decentralised policing could improve intelligence and community trust, but will not fix Nigeria’s security crisis without comprehensive legal, institutional and governance reforms.
“State policing holds immense potential to enhance local responsiveness to insecurity, but without ironclad safeguards, it risks becoming a new frontier for abuse and fragmentation,” Rafsanjani stated. “True security reform must serve the people, not entrench elite power.”
—Fears of political interference—
CISLAC identified political interference as a major risk. It warned that without constitutional guarantees of operational independence and independent oversight, state police formations could be used by governors and political actors “to suppress opposition voices, intimidate journalists and civil society actors, silence critics, and influence electoral outcomes.”
The group also called for merit-based, independently verified recruitment, saying political appointees, partisan loyalists and “political thugs” must not be absorbed into state police if professionalism and public confidence are to be sustained.
*Funding gaps and two-tier policing*
The organisation raised concerns over disparities in state capacity, noting that many sub-national governments already struggle to pay salaries and pensions.
“Without sustainable financing mechanisms… many states may be unable to recruit, equip, train, and retain professional police personnel, creating a two-tier policing system in which wealthier states enjoy effective security while poorer states are left with under-resourced and ineffective forces,” it said.
Beyond funding, CISLAC said states must show administrative and technical capacity to manage modern police structures, including human resource systems, disciplinary mechanisms, intelligence coordination and adherence to national standards.
–Oversight and capacity needs–
CISLAC urged stronger oversight provisions, including independent supervision, robust human rights training, effective complaint and disciplinary mechanisms, enforceable sanctions for abuse, and clear frameworks for intelligence sharing between state and federal security agencies.
It said state police should not replicate existing structures but must invest in forensic investigations, cybercrime capabilities, digital intelligence, surveillance technology, specialised units and community engagement.
The group also cautioned against treating state police as an instant fix, noting the transition will take time. It urged the Federal Government to keep strengthening existing institutions through better intelligence sharing, community policing, welfare for personnel and technology-driven policing during the transition.
–Recommendations–
CISLAC called on the 36 State Houses of Assembly to hold public hearings and strengthen the framework during ratification.
Specific proposals include greater independence for State Police Service Commissions, protected funding mechanisms, transparent procurement, mandatory independent audits, and minimum national standards on recruitment, training, welfare and human rights compliance.
It also urged the Federal Government and National Assembly to set up a multi-stakeholder transitional committee to oversee phased implementation, monitor compliance and evaluate impact nationwide.
The organisation said it remains committed to working with the National Assembly, state legislatures, civil society, traditional institutions, labour, media and the private sector to ensure any state policing framework delivers “accountable, transparent, effective, rights-based, citizen-centred, and equitable security for all Nigerians.”
