The House of Representatives has passed the constitutional alteration bill seeking to establish State Police, marking a major milestone in Nigeria’s efforts to reform its security architecture and strengthen grassroots policing.
Speaking after Thursday’s plenary, the Member representing Ikeja Federal Constituency, Rt. Hon. James Abiodun Faleke, disclosed that the House considered the constitutional amendment bill on the creation of State Police alongside other important legislative matters.
According to him, the proposal successfully scaled through the stage of consideration after a rigorous and robust debate by lawmakers.
Faleke described the development as a significant step towards modernising Nigeria’s policing system, saying it would strengthen efforts to tackle the nation’s growing security challenges while enhancing public safety and internal security across the country.
The bill was passed after 311 lawmakers voted in support, surpassing the constitutionally required two-thirds majority needed for constitutional amendments.
However, the passage was not without controversy, as members of the minority caucus staged a walkout, alleging that due process was not followed during the consideration of the bill. The protest was led by the Minority Leader, Hon. Fred Agbedi.
Earlier, the Deputy Speaker of the House and Chairman of the House Committee on Constitution Review, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, presented the report and urged lawmakers to support the legislation before the House proceeded to electronic and virtual voting.
The House’s approval comes four weeks after the Senate passed the same bill, bringing the National Assembly a step closer to establishing a dual policing system in Nigeria.
Under the proposed framework, the existing Nigeria Police Force structure will be replaced by a Federal Police Service and separate State Police Services.
One of the key provisions empowers state governors to appoint Commissioners of Police for their respective states, subject to confirmation by the State Houses of Assembly.
The bill also outlines the operational relationship between governors and state police commands, allowing governors to issue lawful written policy directives on matters relating to public safety and order within their states.
To guard against abuse of the proposed policing system, the legislation contains safeguards protecting political freedoms and civil liberties. It expressly prohibits state police from arresting, detaining, investigating or deploying force against any individual, political party or group solely for criticising the government, except in accordance with the law.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had earlier transmitted the constitutional amendment bill to the National Assembly as part of his administration’s broader security reform agenda. The proposed law seeks to provide a legal framework for states to establish and operate their own police services alongside the Federal Police.
With the passage by both the Senate and the House of Representatives, the legislation moves closer to becoming law, paving the way for a new era of community-based policing aimed at improving intelligence gathering, enhancing rapid response to security threats and strengthening internal security nationwide.
