Developing: FCT Excluded From Proposed State Police System — Senate Explains Why

The Federal Capital Territory has been excluded from the proposed state police system because it lacks the constitutional structures required to operate its own police force, the Senate has explained.

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Publicity, Yemi Adaramodu, said the FCT does not have a governor or a State House of Assembly and is directly administered by the Federal Government.

Adaramodu said the FCT is managed by a minister who operates under the direction of the Federal Executive Council, while the National Assembly performs the legislative functions for the territory.

He explained that the absence of a governor and state legislature means the FCT cannot operate under the same policing structure being proposed for Nigeria’s 36 states.

“The FCT issue is different. It is under the Federal Government,” Adaramodu said.

He added that since the territory has no legislative assembly, the National Assembly makes laws for the FCT, while policing remains the responsibility of the Federal Government.

The clarification comes as the Federal Government continues preparations for the proposed state police system, with President Bola Tinubu expected to receive the draft Executive National Policing Bill on September 3.