Lagos State House of Assembly yesterday held its first plenary since inauguration, with a call on National Assembly to begin actions leading to establishment of state police.
It called on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to equip the Neighbourhood Safety Corps to effectively perform community policing.
These actions, the Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, said, would stem rising insecurity.
Obasa noted attacks on communities in some states. He reiterated it was time National Assembly begins constitutional amendment to allow for alternative policing system.
He said,
“While I commend the Ninth National Assembly for doing a lot to amend the constitution, there is need to call on the 10th National Assembly to see state police as a major factor of development.”
Gbolahan Yishawu (Eti-Osa I) commended Obasa for resurrecting the issue saying,
“we remember you sponsored the bill on Neighbourhood Safety Corps, and we see what it has done for our state and how others are copying it.”
Noting President Bola Tinubu started well with moves to rejig the economy, Yishawu said security is at the heart of a country’s progress.
The motion was supported by other lawmakers who lamented inadequate police personnel in Lagos, and suggested police reforms at the national level. The lawmakers argued further the establishment of state police would boost employment.
The House congratulated President Tinubu for his election as Chairman of Authority of Heads of State and Government of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). It said it believes in Tinubu’s capacity to bring the countries under ECOWAS to work together.
The House resolved a report relating to legislative compliance on appointment of some nominees without its approval. The lawmakers called on the Executive arm to act in conformity with the law.