Nyiam Calls for Independent Oversight of State Police, Warns Against Governor Control
A member of the Presidential Advisory Committee that organised the 2014 National Conference, retired Colonel Tony Nyiam, has called for state police services to be supervised by independent Police Service Commissions rather than being placed directly under the control of state governors.
Nyiam, while contributing to the ongoing debate over the creation of state police in Nigeria, warned that giving governors full control over state police could expose the system to political interference and weaken the independence of law enforcement.
He argued that state police should instead be overseen by a State Police Service Commission made up of representatives from different sections of society.
“Never, in terms of universal good governance practices, should the executive, legislative or judicial arm of a state government directly control a state police service,” Nyiam said.
The retired military officer suggested that members of the commission should come from a wide range of groups, including religious organisations, traditional institutions, labour unions, the Nigerian Bar Association, civil society organisations and community-based groups.
He proposed that representatives from bodies such as the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Muslim organisations, traditional rulers, trade unions, NGOs and other civic groups should be included to ensure wider public participation.
According to Nyiam, having a broad-based oversight body would help prevent state police from becoming tools for political battles and would promote accountability and public confidence.
He also argued that modern governance goes beyond the traditional executive, legislative and judicial arms, saying the media and organised civil society play important roles in ensuring transparency and accountability.
Nyiam’s comments come as calls for state police continue to gain attention amid Nigeria’s worsening security challenges.
Supporters of state police believe decentralising policing would allow security agencies to better understand local threats and respond faster to crimes. However, opponents have raised concerns that governors could misuse such powers for political purposes.
Nyiam maintained that an independent regulatory structure would be necessary to ensure state police serve citizens rather than political interests.
