NEC To Deliberate On State Police Today

The National Economic Council (NEC) will convene today (Thursday) to discuss the contentious issue of state policing, a subject that has garnered significant attention in recent months.

The council, chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima and comprising the 36 state governors, is set to meet at 11:00 am at the Council Chamber of the State House, Abuja.

Sources with knowledge of the agenda confirmed this development to Punch.

“It’s holding tomorrow morning at 11 am, but I have not seen the agenda. It is not out yet,” said one source who asked to remain anonymous as he was authorised to speak to the press.

However, another source confirmed that the council members will deliberate on the official position of states at the meeting.

“You know, from the last meeting, we learned that some states will present their report within one week.

“That deadline ended last month. So, they will be putting together the reports from states and presenting it at the meeting,” the source stated, adding that it likely that all states and the FCT have submitted their reports.

At its 146th meeting on November 21, the council gave Adamawa, Kebbi and Kwara States and the FCT one week (November 28) to submit their positions on the proposed creation of state police.

The Bayelsa State Governor, Duoye Diri, told State House Correspondents, “The council mandated these remaining states and FCT to make their submissions within the next one week.”

Diri said the three states and the nation’s capital were the only entities yet to submit reports out of the 36 states.

He explained, “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, who are the chairman of our forum.

“The FCT has 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.”

In a statement signed November 21, Shettima’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communication, Stanley Nkwocha, revealed, “The position of states on state police will be ready by the next NEC meeting.

“Deliberating on the updated submission on the establishment of state police, council mandated states that were yet to make their submissions on the subject matter should comply within the next one week to enable NEC to come up with a unanimous position on state police at the next meeting.”