THE STRUCTURE OF THE POLICE UNDER THE NIGERIAN FEDERALISM

Abstract

Nigeria’s governmental structure is arranged in line with the federal model of governance, a structure of governance often applied to heterogeneous systems, consisting of at least two constituent parts that are not wholly independent but together form the system as a whole. Nonetheless, the Nigeria Police Force is structured in a somewhat centralized pattern, thereby precluding State police in the country. The present centralized structure of the Nigeria police force has led to various negatives in the police force, leading to ineffective policing in the country, which has been various decried and particularly deprecated by the #Endsars protest in the country. The paper therefore appraises Nigeria’s federal system, while analyzing the somewhat centralized police structure in Nigeria. The paper argues that in line with basic federalism practice, the Nigeria police force should be decentralized and the governments of the States should be empowered to maintain State police forces.