Nigeria's 36 state governors have thrown their weight behind the immediate establishment of state police, insisting it must be constitutionally sound and aligned with federalism and citizens' rights. The push comes as the country grapples with terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and other security threats.
The governors made their position known in a fresh demand reported by Vanguard on Friday. They want the constitutional and legal framework for state police sorted out quickly. Key stakeholders are also moving to strengthen the security architecture through legislative reforms, sustainable intelligence funding, and renewed efforts to make state police a reality.
But while the governors talk, the federal government has already taken a different kind of action. Multiple sources told The Punch that N500 billion was deducted from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) revenue for May 2026 to fund a national security emergency intervention. The deduction happened at the source, before the money was shared among the three tiers of government.
The N500 billion is a huge chunk of the federation's monthly revenue. For context, FAAC distributes money from oil, taxes, and other sources to the federal, state, and local governments. Deducting that amount before sharing means states and local councils will get less this month. No official statement has been released on what the emergency intervention covers.
On the economic front, oil prices fell sharply on Thursday, dropping to their lowest levels since the US-Iran conflict began. An interim agreement between the United States and Iran improved prospects for global crude supply, pushing prices down. Lower oil prices mean less revenue for Nigeria, which depends on crude exports for most of its foreign exchange and budget funding.
In other news, the Federal Government has released the general guidelines for implementing the Tax Acts 2025. The guidelines outline the transition process from the repealed tax laws to the new tax framework, which took effect on January 1, 2026. Businesses and individuals now have a clearer picture of how to comply with the new tax regime.
Meanwhile, countries around the world marked World Sickle Cell Day on Friday. In Nigeria, the day was overshadowed by concerns about inaccurate readings, misdiagnosis, and falsified genotype results in laboratories. Health professionals are demanding standardisation of testing procedures to prevent wrong results that can lead to mismatched marriages and births of children with sickle cell disease.
The governors' renewed push for state police isn't new. Similar calls have been made over the years, especially as insecurity worsens. But the N500 billion security deduction shows the federal government is taking its own path, bypassing the debate and acting unilaterally. Whether the money will be used effectively isn't clear yet.