Legal expert and past Nigerian Bar Association president, Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), has advised the federal government that creating state police is insufficient for effective reform. In a letter sent to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, Agbakoba praised President Bola Tinubu’s initiative to amend Section 214 of the Constitution to allow for state-level policing. However, he warned that without specific legal protections, these new police forces could easily fall under the influence of state governors.
Drawing from the history of local governments and State Independent Electoral Commissions, Agbakoba noted that well-intentioned bodies often face executive domination. He pointed to South Africa’s constitutional model as an example, suggesting that critical Nigerian entities like the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and others should be shielded by the Constitution to ensure their independence.
The senior advocate proposed that these agencies receive guaranteed funding, secure tenure for their leaders, and direct oversight from the National Assembly rather than the executive branch. He also recommended a tripartite system for appointments and removals—involving the relevant service commission, the executive, and the legislature—to prevent political bias. Furthermore, Agbakoba suggested transferring administrative responsibilities such as prison management and driver’s license issuance to lower levels of government to decrease the workload on federal authorities, promoting the concept of limited government to ensure strong institutional checks on power.
