Senator Ali Ndume has expressed support for the newly passed State Police bill but urged lawmakers to allow deeper deliberation before full implementation.
He spoke on Wednesday during an interview with ARISE News on Wednesday following the Senate’s passage of the legislation.
Ndume represents Borno South under the All Progressives Congress (APC) and is a former Senate Chief Whip.
Ndume said the Senate, as a “House of Deliberation,” should take time to properly scrutinise major national proposals.
He warned against rushing legislative decisions, especially those initiated by the executive.
“I’m not comfortable with just the President bringing up anything and we are… rushing to pass it,” he said.
The senator stressed that lawmakers are expected to carefully analyse bills before approval.
He said senators should act as “elders” in reviewing national policies.
According to him, thorough debate is essential before adopting major reforms.
Ndume also agreed that some lawmakers may feel pressured to align with the President’s position.
When asked, he responded, “Which is true,” acknowledging the concern over legislative independence.
He said such dynamics could weaken proper scrutiny of bills.
While supporting the bill, Ndume raised concerns about how state police would function in practice.
He questioned funding structures, jurisdiction, and coordination among security agencies.
“How do you synchronise it? How do you source their funds?” he asked.
He argued that state police should be part of broader security reforms, not a standalone solution.
Ndume said government’s core duty remains security and welfare of citizens under the constitution.
He cited Section 14(2) of the Constitution in his argument.
The senator cautioned against dismissing the idea before it is implemented.
He said it was unfair to conclude that state police would fail without testing it.
“We have not even done it, and how can you say it’s not going to work?” he said.
Ndume acknowledged fears that governors could misuse state police for political purposes.
However, he said similar powers already exist under the centralised policing system.
He argued that proper safeguards could prevent abuse by state authorities.
He said the Senate had discussed introducing “safety valves” to guide implementation.
Ndume stressed the need for security experts and professionals in designing the framework.
He said this would help prevent misuse and ensure accountability.
Drawing from Borno State, Ndume said local security structures have proven effective in countering insurgency.
He cited groups such as the Civilian Joint Task Force as valuable support to the military.
He said decentralised policing could strengthen grassroots security.
Ndume argued that police presence should extend to all local government areas.
He suggested creating local government or county-level policing structures.
He said this would improve response time and local security coverage.
Despite concerns, Ndume expressed confidence that the initiative could succeed if properly managed.
He said the reform could be a defining achievement for President Bola Tinubu.
“If it works well, it will go down in history,” he said.
