State Police Bill Heads To 36 State Assemblies For Approval This Week

State Police Bill Heads To 36 State Assemblies For Approval This Week
At least 24 state legislatures must approve the constitutional amendment.
Senate leaders said the proposal is aimed at improving national security.

The National Assembly is set to transmit the Constitution Alteration Bill seeking the establishment of state police to the 36 state Houses of Assembly this week for consideration.

The proposed constitutional amendment requires approval by at least 24 state assemblies before it can be forwarded to President Bola Tinubu for assent.

EDITOR’S PICKS

EKO HOT BLOG reports that Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Publicity, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, disclosed the development during an interview on Sunday.

“The bill for the creation of state police will get to the states this week. The states’ speakers have met and are awaiting the bill from the National Assembly.

“The state governors are expecting it too, even with their presence in the Senate chamber when the bill was being considered and passed,” Adaramodu said.

The proposed amendment seeks to establish a dual policing system that will allow state governments to establish and operate their own police services, while the Nigeria Police Force retains responsibility for national security matters, including terrorism, border security, cybercrime and arms trafficking.

The bill also includes safeguards to prevent abuse of state police powers by prohibiting authorities from targeting individuals or groups for criticising the government.

The proposal has received the backing of state governors, speakers of state Houses of Assembly and several political stakeholders.

Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia described the Senate’s passage of the bill as a major step towards strengthening Nigeria’s security architecture.

While the Labour Party endorsed the proposal, saying it would promote community based policing, the Peoples Redemption Party opposed it, raising concerns over its timing and credibility.

Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele defended the bill, insisting it was motivated by national security rather than politics.

“The state police proposal was part of memoranda submitted to the Senate Ad hoc Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution. The memorandum had been subjected to a rigorous process and multi tiered consultation across the federation due to its sensitive nature,” he said.

Bamidele added that the consultations involved the executive arm of government, state governors, state assembly speakers and police leadership.

“In the Senate, for instance, 84 out of 109 members voted clause by clause in support of the Bill. This accounted for 77.06 per cent approval at the Senate alone,” he added.