Adaramodu outlines strict safeguards as Senate passes State Police Bill, pledges shared funding and oversight to prevent misuse

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, has issued a strong warning to state governors, declaring that any attempt to misuse the proposed state police structure will attract swift sanctions, including possible federal intervention.

Speaking on Arise Television on Wednesday, shortly after the Senate passed the highly debated State Police Bill, Adaramodu stressed that the new policing framework is backed by strict constitutional safeguards to prevent abuse.

He made it clear that governors will not have unchecked control over state police forces. According to him, the federal government retains the authority to step in if a state police outfit is deployed for partisan, religious, or sectional purposes.

“If it is perceived that a governor is using state police to pursue personal or political interests, the federal police can take over its operations,” Adaramodu said, underscoring the balance built into the system.

The lawmaker explained that the legislation explicitly empowers federal authorities to assume control of any state police command found to be operating outside its legal mandate. He described this as a critical safeguard designed to ensure accountability and prevent misuse of power at the state level.

On the issue of funding, Adaramodu sought to allay concerns about the financial burden on states, noting that the responsibility will be shared. He disclosed that the federal government will provide additional financial support to complement state resources, ensuring that state police formations are adequately equipped to tackle rising security challenges.

The Senate’s passage of the State Police Bill marks a major shift in Nigeria’s security architecture, paving the way for decentralised policing. While many stakeholders have welcomed the move as a long-overdue reform, others remain cautious, raising concerns about the potential for political abuse—concerns the Senate insists have been addressed through built-in checks and oversight mechanisms.