Alltimepost.com Sincerity of Purpose
A former Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria (VON), Mr Osita Okechukwu, has advocated allocation of three per cent of the Federation Account for the funding of the proposed state police.
Okechukwu, who is also a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), made the call in a statement he issued on Sunday in Enugu.
He commended the unprecedented, bipartisan consensus among Nigerians on the urgent need for the establishment of state police as imperative response to contain the security challenges across the country.
The APC chieftain said that the success of state police would depend largely on the dedication of the three per cent funding mechanism to sustain the patriotism.
He noted that the bill passed by the House of Representatives for the establishment of state police did not indicate specific percentage to adequately fund state police.
“I, therefore, advocate that three per cent of the Federation Account should be dedicated specifically to the funding of state police.
“Without proper financial backing, the nation risks unleashing official toll collectors and police thugs on the populace,” he said.
Okechukwu noted that poor funding remained antithetical to modern gadgets and essential ingredient in asymmetrical warfare.
He said that the devolution of police powers and other synergy paradigm were not enough to address poor funding, which rendered Federal police prostrate.
According to him, the realities on the ground have made state police an unavoidable national necessity.
The APC chieftain noted that the creation of state police without a clearly defined funding framework in the Bill and synergy paradigm with other security agencies would amount to chasing shadows.
He cautioned that leaving the financing of state police entirely to the discretion of individual state governments might undermine the objective of the reform.
“Therefore, appropriate adjustment to the Federal Government’s share of the Federation Account, should accompany the Bill.
“Effective policing is the foundation of peace, economic development, growth of our democracy and citizens’ confidence in government.
“All stakeholders should support three per cent funding model that will make state police professional, accountable and sustainable,” he added.
Source: News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
Discover more from Alltimepost.com
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
