The senator representing Kebbi South Senatorial District in the 10th National Assembly, Garba Musa Maidoki, has rejected the proposed State Police Bill currently before the National Assembly.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Tuesday night, Senator Maidoki expressed doubts about its ability to address Nigeria’s worsening security challenges, saying that its timing is suspicious.
The lawmaker said his opposition was not necessarily to the principle of state policing, but to the manner in which the proposal was being handled and the lack of confidence in the country’s ability to implement existing laws.
According to Maidoki, Nigeria has a history of enacting laws and policies that are poorly implemented.
He said, “When we did the Electoral Act, we thought we had nailed the point that would make Nigeria a follower of the law. But unfortunately, everybody knows what happened at the primaries.
“There is no state where any opposition, no matter how strong you are or how much people like you, will win a local government election. Tell me, how do we trust these people?”
Maidoki further said that the principles behind state policing were not inherently flawed but insisted that the country should first demonstrate its ability to enforce existing laws before introducing new constitutional arrangements.
“The principles in themselves are not bad. But what we are saying is, we have laws; let’s practise what we have first so that we can see the difference and identify the gaps.
“Whatever is in the law today has no meaning because it has not been practised,” he said.
The lawmaker also criticised the legislative process surrounding the bill, lamenting that lawmakers were given the 146-page draft only hours before it was scheduled for consideration.
“This bill was given to us today, and in less than 24 hours it will be passed. Good practice requires that after public hearings, the draft should be shown to stakeholders who made presentations so they can see whether their views were captured.
“The only people who have this document are members of the National Assembly, and we received it today. Whether you like it or not, it will be passed at second reading,” he added.
The senator also accused lawmakers of often prioritising personal interests over national interest.
“I have come to the conclusion that every law the National Assembly has made was designed to meet the interests of specific individuals or specific interests, not Nigeria.
“It is a shame in a community of civilised nations that a 146-page bill can be rushed through in this manner,” he stated.
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