BY : MICHAEL EGBEJULE
Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Igbinedion University Okada (IUO), Prof. Osaretin George Izevbuwa has urged the National Assembly to expedite the passage and implementation of the National Policing Bill.
Delivering the institution’s 27th inaugural lecture, titled “Institutional pathologies and Systemic Reforms: The Gatekeepers role in the administration of criminal justice in Nigeria,” Prof. Izevbuwa advocated for a decentralized, three-tier law enforcement framework.
He stated that the proposed structure would consist of a Federal Police Service, 36 State Police Services, and Local Government Police Services.
According to Prof. Izevbuwa, creating these distinct tiers is essential for improving operational efficiency and addressing the security challenges currently facing the nation’s justice system.
To guarantee the operational autonomy of the lower tiers, he emphasized that the legislation must include constitutional guarantees for direct funding.
He recommended amending Section 121 of the Constitution to ensure that allocations for State and Local Government Police Services are disbursed directly to them, effectively insulating state law enforcement from political interference.
“The Bill should incorporate the constitutional guarantees of direct funding for State Police Services as well as Local Goverment Police Services by amending Section 121 of the Constitution to ensure that funds standing to the credit of a State Police Service and local Government Police Service are paid directly to the concerned Service, thereby insulating state police from political manipulation through funding control.
“The legislation should also set National Minimum Standards for recruitment, training, oversight, and human rights compliance, and provide for an orderly transition with clear certification requirements for states and Local Governments seeking to establish their own Policing services.
Prof. Izevbuwa also urged Federal High Court judges to conclude part-heard criminal matters, saying, “This would prevent cases from being restarted when the presiding judge is promoted or transferred, thereby reducing delays. Other proposed reforms, including mandatory pre-trial case management and reform of the trial-within-trial procedure, should be enacted and implemented. “
The legal expert, while emphasising the need to accclerate Digital Transformation of the Judiciary, said that the Supreme Court’s E-Filing System and the Nigeria Case Management System (NCMS) should be extended to all courts nationwide.
“Judges should adopt proactive case management strategies, including electronic filing, virtual hearings, digital case-tracking systems, and automated scheduling tools. The Supreme Court Practice Directions 2026, which mandate electronic filing, should be strictly enforced. Artificial intelligence should be deployed for legal research, case management, and court administration, as piloted in Akwa Ibom.” he said.
