Police Recruitment LG Boss Wants Federal Character

Governor Gabriel Suswam of Benue has suggested that governors be empowered to give directives to police commissioners without seeking permission from the Presidency.

“The proviso to Section 215 (4) should be expunged to compel police commissioners manning state commands to be bound to carry out orders from state governors without the need for clearance from the Presidency,” he said on Wednesday in Jos.

Suswam was the Guest Speaker at the launching of a N150 million appeal fund for the building of an International Centre for Law and Diplomacy and the public presentation of the Law Journal of the University of Jos.

He said the right of governors to give directives to police commissioners on the maintenance and securing of public order, subject to approval from the president, minister or the inspector-general of police, was misplaced.

“The recent ethnic and religious crises that have, at one time or the other, engulfed some states of the federation provide enough credible reasons for the amendment of this section of the constitution.

“The continuous retention  of this proviso in the 1999 Constitution prevents state governors, who are the chief security officers of their states, from dealing effectively with crisis situations in their domains.