Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), has accused Nigeria’s state governors of abandoning their constitutional roles in the oversight and management of the Nigeria Police Force, contributing to the persistent security challenges in the country.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television on Friday, June 6, 2026, Falana reacted to ongoing debates about establishing state police.
He clarified that Nigeria does not operate a purely federal government police but a federation police known as the Nigeria Police Force.
Falana explained that the Nigerian Police Council, comprising the President as chairman, the Inspector-General of Police, the Chairman of the Police Service Commission, and all 36 state governors is constitutionally empowered to administer, organise, and supervise the police.
“In that 39-member council, the 36 state governors are members. But unfortunately, since 1999, the governors have abdicated their constitutional duty to the president,” he said.
This abdication, according to Falana, has resulted in the President solely controlling the police, contrary to the provisions of the Constitution.
He noted that the council, which is the only security body that does not meet regularly, has rendered itself ineffective.
Falana argued that the governors’ failure to activate the Police Council has worsened insecurity and fuelled demands for state police.
However, he expressed reservations about creating new structures without addressing existing problems.
He pointed out that several states already run local security networks such as Amotekun in the South-West, Neighbourhood Watch in Lagos, Civilian Joint Task Force in Borno, and Hisbah in Kano, describing them as de facto state police.
“The real issue is not creating another agency called state police,” Falana said. “How will they be funded?”
He also criticised the inadequate equipping of local security operatives, who are often sent to confront heavily armed bandits with inferior weapons.
Falana urged proper funding, coordination, and equipping of existing security architectures rather than relying solely on new agencies.
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