Dr Rufai Aliyu of the Kebbi State
University of Science and Technology, Aliero, has advised the Federal
Government to convert redundant local government staffers to state police.
Aliyu told the News Agency of
Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Birnin Kebbi that this would help to shore up the
dearth of personnel currently existing within the police force.
He said that they would be able
to tackle insecurity more efficiently in their various states in the country.
“Some local government staffers
are redundant and idle.
He alleged that only a handful of
their staff members in the various local government were working.
“Others are redundant and idle.
“We have a shortage of manpower
within the police force in the country. So, the idle local government staffers
should just be converted to state police.
“The government will train them
on how to provide security for the communities in their states and local
government areas,’’ he said.
He said that with such an
arrangement, the states would be safer and have power to train and equip their
primary security force.
“The state governments can then
take over their welfare depending on their needs.
“Each state has varying security
needs and different structures are needed to tackle such problems.
“By decentralising the police
force, there will be room for customised training and provisions for the new
state police forces.’’
He said that with the country’s
current population put at about 200 million; it needed no fewer than two
million policemen to safeguard the lives and properties of her citizens.
“If there are state police
forces, their officers and men will be able to identify and understand every
corner of their state of operations.
“They will also be able to fish
out possible criminal elements’ outlets than the federal police,’’ he said.
Aliyu said by giving the state
governments power to have their own police force, they would respond better to
security threats within their states without having to wait for orders from the
Federal Government before acting.
He also said that the primary
functions of the local government according to the 1999 Constitution were the
maintenance of markets and motor parks.
Others include the provision of
public convenience, registration of births and death, construction and
maintenance of roads and street lights.
“Local governments used to
provide primary education and primary healthcare services for their residents.
“But today, the councils have
failed woefully in performing their constitutional functions,’’ he said.
He, however, advised the Federal
Government to grant financial autonomy to local governments for them to be able
to take care for the welfare of their workers.
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