By Abiola Olawale
The National Economic Council (NEC), on Wednesday, directed the governors of the 36 states of the federation to submit their respective reports on the establishment of State police.
This resolution was made during a NEC meeting held at the Council Chamber, Presidential Villa, Abuja and presided over by Vice President Kashim Shettima.
Addressing a press conference after the meeting, the acting governor of Oyo State, Abdulraheen Lawal, stated that the 36 governors were meant to submit their reports today, Wednesday, for consideration at the meeting.
Lawal, who has been acting in place of Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State after he transmitted power to embark on a vacation, added that four states failed to submit their report.
Following the development, the NEC resolved that all 36 state governors submit their report on Monday, September 9, 2024.
Lawal also stated that Shettima warned that actions would be taken against any of the four states that refused to submit its report before the deadline.
He also explained that an update on the establishment of State police was considered as a result of the security challenges across the nation especially in the Northeast, Northcentral, southwest, Southeast and south-south.
He said: “An update on the establishment of State police was considered, and this was as a result of the security challenges that we have across the nation, in Northeast, Northcentral, southwest, Southeast and South-south so that we would have robust security in our nation.
“For that purpose, sometime last year NEC considered the establishment of state police and asked states to make submissions of considerations
“Today (Wednesday), all the states were supposed to submit for consideration of NEC. Incidentally, four states couldn’t submit, and for that purpose, NEC decided that those states must make their submissions on or before Monday next week; otherwise, whatever decision next on the establishment of State Police will be binding on those states that refused to submit them to make submissions.
“So that is the resolution as of today’s NEC meeting.”
Also addressing a press conference on Wednesday, the Governor of Bauchi, Bala Mohammed, said NEC discussed exhaustively the flood situation across the states and that the governors acknowledged the support of the federal government in terms of releasing N3 billion as a measure to ensure that at least they provide palliative for the flood.
He said: “The flood was more devastating along the Northeast axis where a major artery between Kano and Maiduguri has been cut off with devastating effects on households, schools, bridges and other means of livelihood. Lives were lost and a lot of properties were also destroyed.
“Of course, that has provided a big challenge to us as a government and as a people in our states because we need to provide more food security. Already, farmlands are submerged, and therefore, there’s a need for collaboration between all the tiers of government to ensure food security.”
