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A two time House of Representatives Member and the Flagbearer of the All Progressives Congress, Kogi West Senatorial District, Hon. Karimi Sunday Steve has advocated devolution of power that favours increased power, functions and resources for States and Local Government as way out of the precarious financial and insecurity situation the country finds itself.
Hon. Karimi made the suggestion while interacting with Newsmen, said the current challenges facing the country makes it difficult for Governor’s to secure the lives of people in their States and Local Government inclusive.
The former lawmaker called for the Devolution of power with further constitutional amendments to thinker with the 68 items in the Exclusive Legislative List, says enough of shying away from the realities.
He particularly said items like Police and Government Security Agencies, Arms and ammunition, mining, and electricity items should be made to be within the preserve of States to enhance Security, regretted the over concentration of powers in the centre.
Hon. Karimi regretted that by virtue of section 214 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Section 7,8,9 of the Nigerian Police Act 2020, allows for only one central police under the Command of the Inspector General of Police who is subject only to the President.
He also said items 45 of the Exclusive Legislative List makes the Nigerian Police and other government Security services a matter within the exclusive preserve of the Federal Government, expressed dismay that a central or unitary police system is too constrained to tackle the hydra headed insecurity situation facing the country now.
The former lawmaker observed that most of the insecurity issues affecting the country are localized and can be best tackled by formally training police and security personnel who know the terrain in the State and locality, described Community Policing as the way out of policing the country now.
” In my views. State Governors in a Federal System of Government must have its own Police Force to maintain law and order. Arrest criminals, investigate them, have there own Prison Facilities to detain suspects and criminals as well as equip courts to prosecute and adjudicate on insecurity cases”.
Hon. Karimi disclosed that due to increased responsibilities on States in the federation opined that it has become imperative that States as Federating units should have increased control of natural resources whilst they pay royalties to the Central Government, pointing out that with such arrangements life and properties will be better secured. The impact of governance he added too will be better felt at the local levels while the unhealthy agitations for power amongst the ethnic minorities and minorities will soon become a thing of the past.
Hon. Karimi stressed that if the country must come out of the precarious predicaments it finds itself now where people are unable to sleep with their two eyes closed and live lives of prosperity, suggested devolution of power as way out to a peaceful and prosperous Nigeria.
