By Hussein J-Isah
The Lagos State House of Assembly on Wednesday renewed its support for the establishment of an autonomous state police, even as it called on state legislatures in the country to speed up approval of the constitutional amendment.
In similar vein, the state legislature also put forward a bill to outlaw street begging and related activities in the state.
The two measures bothering on security too the center stage during the plenary. They argued that decentralised policing and stricter regulation of street begging were key to mitigating security concerns in most part of the state.
Presiding over the session, Speaker of the House Mudashiru Obasa, noted that state police remains the nation’s key to tackle insecurity, insisting that any constitutional framework establishing the system must grant states operational and administrative independence.
“The initiative remains the most practical solution to the security challenges confronting the country, including kidnapping, banditry and other violent crimes,” Obasa said.
He stressed the need for constitutional empowerment for effectiveness of the state police, even whereby state governments were allowed to recruit, screen and appoint personnel familiar with the peculiar security challenges of their communities.
He said: “Any intervention by the Federal Government in the operations of state police should be clearly defined by law and limited strictly to matters that threaten national security.”
Obasa also endorsed the proposal for the sub regional governors to appoint state commissioners of police, subject to confirmation by state houses of assembly, but said legislative oversight should extend beyond that office.
“I also believe appointments of Area Commanders, Zonal Commanders and other senior officers should equally be subjected to confirmation by the respective state houses of assembly,” he stated.
About to concerns that governors could misuse state police for political advantage, the Obasa dismissed the position as enough to derail the reform.
The speaker said: “Similar concerns have always existed regarding the Nigeria Police Force under the Federal Government, yet the institution continues to function. We must not allow such fears to weaken a reform whose primary objective is the protection of lives and property.”
Obasa thanked President Bola Tinubu, the National Assembly and other stakeholders for advancing the constitutional amendment process, describing the current effort as a significant milestone towards decentralising policing.
Earlier, while moving the motion, Stephen Ogundipe noted that Section 214 of the 1999 Constitution currently recognises only the Nigeria Police Force, but said ongoing constitutional amendments presented an opportunity to establish state police as part of wider security reforms.
Other lawmakers who were in favour of the proposal stated that Lagos state had consistently advocated community policing and had repeatedly called for constitutional changes that would allow states to assume greater responsibility for internal security.
The state assembly also passed for second reading a bill seeking to outlaw street begging, street urchins and related activities across Lagos, with lawmakers describing the proposed legislation as another important step towards improving public safety.
The proposed law, titled A Bill for a Law to Prohibit Street Begging, Street Urchins and Related Vices in Lagos State and for Connected Purposes, received unanimous support during debate.
The lawmakers argued in their debate that that criminal elements increasingly exploit street begging as cover for theft, robbery and other offences, particularly in traffic corridors and public spaces.
In his own contribution, Desmond Elliot cautioned against treating poverty as a criminal offence.
He said: “We must give this legislation a human face. There should be rehabilitation centres where those taken off the streets can receive care, support and opportunities for reform,”
He stressed that the eventual establishment of state police would strengthen enforcement of the proposed law.
Deputy Chief Whip David Setonji identified weak enforcement as undermining several existing laws and urging that the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps should be included among agencies responsible for implementing the legislation.
Also, Bonu Solomon, a house member noted that the Assembly had enacted numerous laws over the years but often struggled with implementation.
According to him, the bill should address both child and adult begging, while beaming searchlight on those who encourage the practice through indiscriminate alms giving.
The house Majority Leader Noheem Adams described the bill as timely, citing that even some northern states and the Federal Capital Territory had already introduced similar measures.
Speaker Obasa responded by making clarification that the proposed law was not designed to discourage charity but to regulate how assistance reaches vulnerable persons.
“We are not saying people should not give. What we are saying is that the process should be organised in a way that enhances security and restores order,” he said.
The Speaker noted that criminals often disguise themselves as beggars, particularly at night and during traffic congestion, creating security risks for motorists and pedestrians in the state known for commercial activities.
He criticizef the growing exploitation of women and children for street begging, describing it as a business operated by individuals who profit from vulnerable people, saying that, “Government should establish dedicated institutions where members of the public can channel their donations while those removed from the streets receive rehabilitation, welfare support and opportunities for reintegration.”
He added that discouraging indiscriminate street giving would reduce organised begging. “If there is no giver, there will be no beggar,” he said.
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