Why governors now control Nigeria Police Force – Ringim

Retired Deputy Inspector General of Police, DIG Uba Bala Ringim, said some governors mostly control men of the Nigeria Police Force in their respective states because they are the one taking care of their needs.

Ringim stated this while fielding questions from FAZENOTETV  in Ringim, Jigawa State over the current insecurity situation in the country.

He said the federal government needed to do more to the Nigeria Police Force for them to function effectively and fight against the lingering insecurity situation in the country.

He said for effective and better policing in the country, the federal government must take full of its responsibilities by providing all the necessary facilities to the police to function accordingly.

“Constitutionally, the federal government is to take care and full charge of the Nigeria Police Force, but now, some governors have taken charge,” Ringim lamented.

He said most of the things police personnel needed are now being taken care of by governors of states, including vehicles, fueling, maintenance as well as allowances.

“In the situation where the governor of a state provides your needs; it will be hard for you as a commissioner of police to act against his demands, it’s not possible,” he noted.

Ringim said the federal government almost abandoned its responsibilities to state governors and it is undermining the force in the country.

“When I joined Nigeria Police Force; each and every police division office had enough vehicles for DPO, operations and lorry for transporting officers for reinforcement whenever the need arose.

“Even uniforms then were being provided by the police for junior officers ranging from inspector to constable.”

Ringim, while commending the Federal Governor for the increment in police salaries, also advised the government to look into all the police demands; including vehicles, accommodation, allowances and other working facilities for them to function effectively to curtail the menace of insecurities happening in the country.

Ringim said when the Police Trust Fund is approved; it will help in providing all the necessary facilities to the Nigeria Police Force, thus, making it more functional to solve the problems of insecurity in the country.