The National Economic Council (NEC) has announced September 9 as deadline for four states to submit their reports on state police.
On Thursday, February 15, 2024, President Bola Tinubu agreed on the need to establish state police, as recommended by state governors, to curb rising insecurity in the country.
States were subsequently directed to submit their reports to the council for deliberation and action.
However, briefing correspondents after the council meeting, which was presided over by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Wednesday, the acting Governor of Oyo State, Bayo Lawal, said four states had yet to turn in their reports.
He stated that the NEC has given these states a deadline of Monday to submit their reports or be bound by any decision made by the council.
The states include Kwara, Sokoto, Kebbi, Adamawa, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Lawal said: “An update on the establishment of state police was considered as a result of the security challenges we face across the nation in the Northeast, North Central, Southwest, Southeast, and South-South regions, so that we can have robust security in our nation.
“For that purpose, sometime last year, the NEC considered the establishment of state police and asked states to make submissions for consideration.
“Today, all the states were supposed to submit their reports for consideration by the NEC. Incidentally, four states couldn’t submit their reports.
“The NEC decided that those states must make their submissions on or before Monday, September 9th, otherwise, whatever decision the NEC takes on the establishment of state police will be binding on those states that refused to make submissions.
“So, that is the resolution as of today’s NEC meeting.”
