By Isiaka Mustapha, Editor-in-Chief, People’s Security Monitor

The Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) FCT Council, Comrade Grace Ike has called for any state policing framework to be firmly anchored on respect for human rights, accountability and community policing principles.

She stressed that the proposed system must be designed to protect citizens and strengthen public confidence in law enforcement rather than create another avenue for intimidation or abuse.

The NUJ chairman also urged the media and civil society organisations to subject state police proposals to rigorous public scrutiny by examining their implications, monitoring the actions of lawmakers and government officials, and giving citizens a platform to express their concerns and experiences.

According to her, the ongoing debate should be broad based, transparent and driven by evidence rather than reduced to a temporary political discussion.She said the central objective should go beyond merely restructuring Nigeria’s policing architecture to creating a system capable of delivering greater safety, justice and trust to citizens.

Ike further argued that state police could become an effective tool for improving community security and strengthening Nigeria’s federal democracy if introduced within a clear constitutional framework and supported by effective oversight, adequate funding and strict adherence to human rights.

She emphasised that the success of state policing would ultimately depend on the safeguards put in place to prevent political interference, abuse of power and violations of citizens’ fundamental rights.