The Lagos State House of Assembly has passed a resolution urging the National Assembly to begin fresh process of the amendment of the 1999 Constitution for the establishment of state police.
The House passed the resolution in a vote conducted by the Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, on Tuesday in its first plenary since its inauguration on June 6.
The House also called on Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu to urgently equip the Neighbourhood Safety Corps of the state so that its personnel could effectively perform the task of community policing.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the ninth House of Representatives Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, rejected a bill seeking the creation of state police.
Obasa explained that the creation of state police would stem the increasing spate of insecurity in parts of the country.
The speaker noted with concern, recent attacks on communities in some states of the federation with many citizens losing their lives and belongings.
Obasa, recalling some of the latest attacks he read about the killing of some residents in Plateau State, noted the abduction of the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State, Mr Paul Omotoso.
The speaker said though the Lagos Assembly had consistently clamoured for the establishment of state police, “this is the appropriate time for the Senate and the House of Representatives to begin an amendment of the Constitution to contain the creation of the alternative policing system.
“While I commend the ninth National Assembly for doing a lot to amend the constitution, there is the need for us to call on the 10th National Assembly to see it as a matter of urgency to make the issue of state policing a major factor of development,” he said.
Supporting the Speaker, Mr Gbolahan Yishawu (APC-Eti-Osa II) commended the speaker for bringing up the issue of state policing again.
“We remember very well that it was you that sponsored the bill on Neighbourhood Safety Corps and we see what it has done for our state and how other states are copying it,” he said.
While praising President Bola Tinubu for starting well with moves to rejig the economy, Yishawu added that security still remains at the heart of a country’s progress.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the motion was supported by other lawmakers who complained about the inadequate number of police personnel in Lagos and also suggested police reforms at the national level.
The lawmakers further argued that the establishment of state police would boost employment across the country.
Meanwhile, the Lagos Assembly has congratulated Tinubu over his election as Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
The House said it believes in Tinubu’s capacity to bring the countries under ECOWAS to work together.
At the plenary, the House also resolved a report relating to issues of legislative compliance on appointment of some Governor’s nominees without approval of the House of Assembly.
The lawmakers urged the Executive arm to henceforth act in conformity with the law. (NAN)