The Nigerian Government and the 36 state governors will next week to take decisions on the creation of state police, which has divided opinions across the country.
The Governor of Bayelsa State, Duoye Diri made this known to State House Correspondents in Abuja on Thursday after the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting.
Diri disclosed that the NEC has given Adamawa, Kebbi and Kwara States and the FCT one week to submit their positions on the proposed creation of state police.
According to him, by the time the NEC convened again next week, a decision would be taken.
His words, “On the issue of state police today, when the decision was taken, even before it was, the three states in question, one of them (Adamawa) was represented by the Deputy Governor, had earlier made submissions that they presented their report.
“So, that was why NEC could not come out immediately to say ‘A or B,’ but rather gave a timeline. And that timeline, as you can see, was very short: one week for them to go and do whatever they are doing so that decisions will be made by the next NEC meeting. And, from how they reacted, I’m sure that maybe we have some bureaucracy regarding the submission”.
Commenting further on the one-week deadline given to the defaulting states, he said, “The Council mandated these remaining states and the FCT to make their submissions within the next one week.
“On the state police, Council was updated with the submission of the establishment of state police, and it was reported that 33 states have submitted their positions, while three states are yet to do so.
“These three states are Adamawa, Kebbi and incidentally Kwara, which is the chairman of our forum, and the FCT are yet to submit their positions.
“The Council mandated these remaining states and the FCT to make their submissions within the next one week and resolved to present a consolidated state’s position on the state police to the National Economic Council at our next meeting.”
