Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, has cautioned the Nigerian government against allowing state governments grappling with the payment of the N30,000 minimum wage to create state police forces.
Falana issued this warning on Wednesday during the inaugural Yinka Odumakin Inter-faculty Debate and Public Lecture organized by the Student Union of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State.
Speaking at the event, Falana emphasized that the establishment of state police was not the ultimate solution to Nigeria’s security challenges.
He urged governments to prioritize acquiring essential security equipment to combat kidnappings, terrorism, and other criminal activities.
Falana stressed that merely creating state police forces without proper equipment and funding would not effectively address insecurity.
In his address, Falana also underscored the importance of addressing youth unemployment, emphasizing that well-equipped security forces alone could not tackle insecurity without addressing the root causes.
Furthermore, Falana criticized state governments’ lack of commitment to improving basic education in the country.
He highlighted the prevalence of out-of-school children in Nigeria, citing UNESCO statistics.
Falana pointed out the failure of many state governments to access funds allocated for the promotion of basic education, despite appeals from parents and stakeholders.
To address the education crisis, Falana called for urgent action from both the federal government and implicated state governments to ensure the accessibility and quality of education for all children in Nigeria.
He also highlighted recent legislative measures aimed at improving tertiary education and access to higher education loans.
Falana acknowledged the complexities surrounding student loan schemes, considering past failures, but urged stakeholders to explore sustainable solutions to higher education funding challenges.
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