The Senate has explained why the Federal Capital Territory will not be included in the proposed state police structure, saying Abuja lacks the constitutional institutions required to operate one.

Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Publicity, Yemi Adaramodu, said the FCT has no governor or State House of Assembly and remains directly under the control of the Federal Government.

Adaramodu said the territory is administered by a minister who takes directives from the Federal Executive Council, while the National Assembly performs legislative functions for the FCT.

“I have heard many people raise a lot of questions on why the Federal Capital Territory is not among the plan for state police. The FCT issue is different. It is under the Federal Government,” he said.

He added that because Abuja does not have a governor or state legislature, it cannot operate under the same policing arrangement being proposed for the 36 states.

“The federal capital does not have an assembly. It is the National Assembly that legislates for the FCT. This is why it can’t be different from what the Federal Government does. Therefore, the federal police are in charge,” Adaramodu said.

The clarification comes as the Federal Government pushes ahead with plans for a new policing structure amid mounting calls for decentralised security across the country.

President Bola Tinubu is expected to receive the draft Executive National Policing Bill on September 3 as part of efforts to provide an operational framework for the proposed system.

Chief of Staff to the President and Chairman of the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill, Femi Gbajabiamila, had also unveiled a public information portal through which Nigerians can submit memoranda and position papers on the proposal.

Under the constitutional amendments being considered, state Houses of Assembly would have powers to legislate on the establishment, administration, funding and oversight of state police.

States would bear the primary responsibility for funding their police formations, although the Federal Government could provide grants or assistance on the recommendation of the National Police Council and subject to approval by the National Assembly.

The FCT, however, would remain under the federal policing structure because of its unique constitutional status and direct administration by the Federal Government.