11 September 2007
Lagos — Presidential Candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Professor Pat Utomi, has urged the Federal Government to activate a dramatic increase in funding allocations to state security institutions.
Utomi said this is necessary, "because the increasing deterioration in the standard and quality of life of Nigerians is severely compounding the already unsound state of our union.
"Having spoken many times during the campaign season on police reform, but observing that security continues to deteriorate and policing remains challenged, it is important to raise the issue again for consideration.
"Violent crime, juvenile delinquency, strife, particularly in the Niger Delta region and other social vices, which are unabating and appear to have become the order in our country today, constitute an open sore on Nigeria's conscience and has become both a source of global embarrassment and threat to national income.," he said and proposes urgent constitutional developments with regard to police reforms focused on multi-tier (federal, state and local government) policing, significant increase in number and quality of men in uniform, equipping the force to be mobile and effective in communication.
Utomi said there is no reason a police constable should take home less than N50, 000 and commended Lagos State government for confronting the issue frontally, with no similar effort from the Federal Government.
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