in order to bring it in line with policing in a democracy. The size of the police force has more than trebled since 1999, with massive investment in equipment and training. 217. Greater focus on enhancing police effectiveness has yielded positive improvements in the operational efficiency of the force, but the level of crime remains high. The security forces are now more subject to the rule of law and are formally subordinate to civil authority. Gaps nevertheless remain, particularly as regards the misuse of state security services by some politicians for private, personal purposes. The military hierarchy has been rather evasive on issues of funding and equipping military formations. There is also the lingering weakness of parliamentary and civil society oversight mechanisms. 218. Compared with the military period, since 1999 there have been huge improvements in the protection of individual rights, in more equitable distribution of resources and in competition for power. Democratic institutions that were established in 1999 are gradually maturing as regards performance of their functions and an understanding of the limits of their powers. Major gaps still remain in the allocation of functions and revenue, in the observance of checks and balances, in developing a culture of effective opposition, in effective control of the security forces and, above all, in developing a generally acceptable and robust constitutional and legal framework for elections and politics in general. Agitations for constitutional review have persisted owing to major concerns regarding the 1999 constitution, especially regarding its content, character and legitimacy. ii. Findings of the CRM The clamour for constitutional reform 219. There was a general consensus among stakeholders that the uninterrupted continuation of civilian rule since 1999 has created a supportive environment for the promotion of constitutional democracy in the country. The constitution itself has serious shortcomings in several areas, especially as it concentrates too much power in the central government and the executive arm of government, thus inhibiting greater devolution of power to the states and local governments. In the consultative sessions, many participants viewed the present constitution as hindering ‘true federalism’. However, the CRM was assured that a constitutional review that would limit executive powers and remove most of the immunity clauses, among others, would soon be proposed. Decentralisation and local government 220. Decentralisation of governance to lower levels where the majority of Nigerians are to be found remains a challenge to the constitutional order. Local government councils are the third tier of government in Nigeria. In order to facilitate their functions, they receive funds from the Federation Account and largely depend on these transfers to execute their functions. 91