Soludo Drops Bombshell: Nigeria Must Share Money Differently for State Police

Photo: The Punch

The Gist: Soludo Says Current Money Sharing Formula Na Joke

Omo, Governor Chukwuma Soludo just scatter table for Aso Rock! The Anambra State governor don talk say if Nigeria serious about creating state police, then we must completely review how we dey share FAAC money. According to Soludo, the current revenue allocation formula na pure comedy show – unrealistic and outdated for our security challenges.

For those wey no sabi wetin FAAC be, na the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee – the body wey dey share federal allocation between federal, state, and local governments. Currently, federal government dey carry the lion's share, while states dey struggle with crumbs. But Soludo dey talk say this arrangement no fit work if states wan handle their own security effectively.

Why Soludo Dey Make Sense (Small Small)

Abeg, let's reason this matter well well. Right now, states dey cry for money to pay teachers and fix roads, talk less of funding serious security operations. How you wan expect Governor Soludo or any other governor to run effective state police force when dem no get enough money to buy fuel for their official cars?

The current FAAC formula dey give federal government about 52.68%, states get 26.72%, and local governments collect 20.60%. But security challenges dey local level – bandits, kidnappers, and cultists dey operate for communities, not for Abuja. So why federal government go dey hold majority of the money when states need am to protect their people?

Wetin Other Governors Go Think About This Gist

If Soludo proposal make sense, other governors fit join the conversation sharp sharp. Just imagine governors like:

• Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos) – wey don dey struggle with area boys and traffic robberies
• Samuel Ortom (Benue) – wey don fight herdsmen wahala for years
• Nyesom Wike (Rivers) – wey know wetin cultism dey cost the state
• Godwin Obaseki (Edo) – wey dey battle kidnapping for Benin-Auchi road
• Dapo Abiodun (Ogun) – wey dey face serious robbery cases for Lagos-Ibadan expressway

These governors fit see Soludo proposal as lifeline. Instead of begging federal government every time security issue arise, dem fit handle their own wahala with proper funding.

The Bigger Picture: Can This Thing Actually Work?

But wait o, make we no just dey clap for Soludo without checking the full gist. Creating state police na serious business wey need serious planning. You need:

• Proper training facilities for each state
• Modern equipment and vehicles
• Intelligence gathering systems
• Coordination with neighboring states
• Professional recruitment processes

All these things need consistent funding, not the kind of allocation wey dey change every month based on oil price or federal government mood.

Federal Government Fit Agree to This Arrangement?

Omo, this na where the real challenge dey. Federal government don dey control security apparatus since independence, and dem no go just release that power easily. The argument for centralized policing na say it prevents states from using police to oppress opposition or settle political scores.

But abeg, wetin we dey see now with current system? Police wey no get enough manpower, equipment, or motivation to tackle insecurity. Communities wey dey form vigilante groups because government police no fit reach dem. If state police with proper funding fit change this situation, why we no go try am?

Wetin This Mean for Regular Nigerians

For ordinary citizens like me and you, Soludo proposal fit be game-changer. Imagine police officers wey sabi your local area well, wey understand the security challenges for your community, and wey get enough resources to respond quickly when wahala start.

Instead of waiting for mobile police to come from Abuja or state capital when kidnappers strike, local state police fit respond sharp sharp. They fit understand local languages, know the terrain, and build better relationship with communities.

The Road Ahead: Challenges and Opportunities

But make we no just dey dream. This proposal get serious challenges:

• Constitutional amendment wey fit take years
• Political resistance from federal lawmakers
• Fear say some governors fit abuse the system
• Technical challenges of restructuring entire security architecture

However, if other governors rally behind Soludo and push for this change together, e fit actually happen. The key na to show Nigerians say state police with proper funding go deliver better security than the current system.

At the end of the day, security na everybody business. If reviewing FAAC formula fit give states the resources to protect their people better, then make dem try am. After all, the current system no dey work effectively, so wetin we get to lose?

Soludo don start the conversation. Now na for other stakeholders to join the discussion and push for the kind of security system wey go actually work for Nigeria.