Femi Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, has questioned the financial readiness of state governments to operate state police, warning that inadequate funding could undermine the effectiveness of decentralised law enforcement.
Speaking in a video published on the official Channels Television YouTube channel on June 25, 2026, Falana raised concerns about the constitutional amendment establishing state police.
“Can we say that governors who cannot pay salaries will suddenly have money to fund the police in the state?” he asked.
Falana argued that creating state police without a sustainable financial framework could compromise law enforcement. He noted that many states already struggle to meet basic obligations, including salary payments, making it difficult to finance the significant operational costs of policing.
According to the human rights lawyer, running a police force requires substantial investment in communication systems, modern technology, equipment and personnel welfare, including insurance.
He cautioned against treating state police as a quick political response to insecurity, warning that underfunded agencies could increase bureaucracy without addressing the root causes of the problem. Falana urged the National Assembly and state legislatures to establish strong accountability mechanisms to ensure any new state police structures remain financially sustainable.
