Some states that are yet to submit their reports on the proposal for the creation of state police have till Monday to do so, the National Economic Council (NEC) gave the directive yesterday.
On February 15, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu agreed with the need to establish state police as recommended by governors to curb rising insecurity across the land.
The 36 states were thereafter mandated to submit their reports to the NEC for deliberation and further action.
Acting Oyo State Governor Bayo Lawal, who briefed reporters at the State House after the meeting, said the failure by the four states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) yet to turn in their reports by Monday would mean that whatever decision the Council arrives at would be binding on them.
Lawal, who is Oyo Deputy Governor, did not name the affected states. But investigation showed that Adamawa, Sokoto, Kwara, Kebbi and FCT, have not submitted their reports.
He said: “An update on the establishment of State police was considered and this was as a result of the security situation challenges that we have across the nation.
“So that we would have a robust security in our nation, for that purpose sometimes last year NEC considered the establishment of state police and asked states to make submissions of considerations.
“Today all the states were supposed to submit for consideration of the NEC. Incidentally, four states couldn’t submit for that purpose. NEC decided that those states must make their submissions on or before Monday, 9th of September, otherwise whatever decision NEC takes on the establishment of state police is binding on those states that refused to make submissions.”
Move to tackle flooding
Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule briefed reporters on NEC’s decision on ravaging floods across the states.
According to him, the Council gave affected states until Monday to come up with detailed inventories of flood-inflicted damages.
Why we insist on state police, by Southern governors
Sule said that the NEC has set a deadline for states to submit comprehensive reports on damage to farms, schools, bridges and other infrastructure affected by floods.
The reports will be used to determine appropriate support for the affected states.
He also added that the NEC reconstituted the flood committee with new members to address the ongoing crisis and provide necessary support to affected states.
The committee will work closely with state governments to assess damage and provide relief.
The deadline for submitting inventories is aimed at enabling the federal government to provide timely and effective support to affected states, mitigating the impact of the flood on communities and livelihoods.
He said: “The Council has decided that by Monday will be the deadline for all the states of the Federation to submit details of damage, including farms, schools, barges that have been affected by the last flood and Mr. Chairman mentioned it will be taken into consideration for appropriate support to the various states.
“So, these are the new very strong membership of the flood committee that will continue to address council henceforth.”
He listed Governors Usman Ododo (Kogi); Seyi Makinde (Oyo); Francis Nwifuru (Ebonyi); Bala Mohammed ( Bauchi); Duoye Diri (Bayelsa) and Umar Namadi (Jigawa) as members of the reconstituted flood committee.
Others are: Minister of Water of Resources; Minister of State for Water Resources; Minister of State for the Environment; Director-General (DG), Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA); DG Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet); DG National Water Resources Institute (NWRI); Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer (MD/CEO), National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA); MD of North East Development Commission (NEDC); DG, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and DG, New Nigeria Development Company Limited (NNDC).
Governor Mohammed said the Council discussed the fact that the federal government has released N3 billion to assist states affected by the recent flooding crisis.
