The National Economic Council -NEC has deferred talks on state police until its next meeting, amidst the alleged violent attacks and bloodshed in parts of the country.
Bayelsa Governor, Duoye Diri, told State House Correspondents after the council’s 149th meeting at the Aso Rock Villa that the issue was on the agenda, but it could not be discussed in detail as it was still far down on the list. Although the governor did not specify when the next council meeting will be, NEC meetings are held on the last Thursday of the month.
Recall that all 36 states had submitted reports supporting a decentralised police force, the NEC deferred discussions until January 2025. The council only sat in February where it said the matter was not discussed.
During the meeting, the governors observed a minute of silence to honour those killed in the recent wave of attacks in Plateau, Benue, Borno and Enugu States.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Governors’ Forum has emphasised the need for increased recruitment into security agencies and the adoption of technology-driven solutions to tackle killings at the state level. The forum, led by Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, made this known in a communiqué read by Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma following their meeting in Abuja.