From Victor Osula, Abuja
VP Shettima
The National Economic Council (NEC) has threatened to impose its decision on states that have failed to submit their reports on State Police.
President Bola Tinubu had in February, agreed on the need to establish state police, as recommended by state governors, to curb rising insecurity in the country. States were subsequently directed to submit their reports to the NEC for deliberation and action.
Briefing State House correspondents after the council meeting presided over by Vice President Kashim Shettima, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, on Wednesday, the acting Governor of Oyo State, Bayo Lawal, said four states including Kwara, Sokoto, Kebbi, Adamawa, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), had yet to turn in their reports.
Lawal said the NEC has given the four states and FCT a deadline of Monday, to submit their reports or be bound by any decision made by the council.
Lawal said: “An update on the establishment of state police was considered as a result of the security challenges we face across the nation in the Northeast, North Central, Southwest, Southeast, and South-South regions so that we can have robust security in our nation.
“For that purpose, sometime last year, the NEC considered the establishment of state police and asked states to make submissions for consideration.
“Today, all the states were supposed to submit their reports for consideration by the NEC. Incidentally, four states couldn’t submit their reports.
“The NEC decided that those states must make their submissions on or before Monday, September 9th, otherwise, whatever decision the NEC takes on the establishment of state police will be binding on those states that refused to make submissions.
“So, that is the resolution as of today’s NEC meeting.”
