Abuja – The National Conference on Thursday approved a recommendation for the creation of state police to complement duties of the Nigeria Police Force in the country.

The approval was given during the adoption of report of the Committee on National Security in Abuja.

The conference adopted the retention of one Federal Police Force that is decentralised to involve participation by states, local governments and communities.

Following the adoption, however, some delegates raised concern on the possibility of harmonious co-existence of both federal and state police, considering that their duties might overlap.

They raised concern on the appropriate title for commissioners of police in charge of state police and federal police as well as modalities for posting commissioners under the federal system to states.

A voice vote was later taken and delegates voted against seeking the consent of a state governor before the posting of a federal police commissioner to any state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that they equally voted against state governors being involved in the running of police commands in their states.

Thereafter, the conference adopted funding of state police by state government and abolishment of monetisation of a special protection unit of the Nigeria Police Force, which seemed to privatise security.

In the same vein, a compulsory life insurance for all armed security personnel, including the police, by government was approved.

The conference, however, voted against the proposal to merge the Road Safety Commission (FRSC) and the National Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) with the Nigeria Police.

The conference also rejected the call to suspended recruitment of constables for a given period of time within which police training institutions would be upgraded and brought to international standard.

The conference further turned down the proposal for the police to be brought under the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

The proposal for the establishment of a police complaint authority and call for women to be given 50 per cent participation in all the security forces were also turned down. (NAN)