The National Assembly is set to transmit the Constitution Alteration Bill seeking the creation of state police to the 36 state Houses of Assembly this week.
This follows the bill’s passage by the Senate, with lawmakers now seeking approval from at least 24 state assemblies before transmitting it to President Bola Tinubu for assent.
Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Publicity, Yemi Adaramodu, disclosed this in an interview with Punch 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 structure, allowing states to create and maintain police services while the Nigeria Police Force retains responsibility for national security matters, including terrorism, border security, cybercrime and arms trafficking.
The bill also contains safeguards against abuse, including provisions barring state police authorities from targeting individuals or groups for criticising governments.
The proposal has received support from governors, state assembly speakers and political stakeholders.
Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, described the Senate’s passage of the bill as a landmark step towards strengthening Nigeria’s security architecture.
The Labour Party (LP) also backed the proposal, saying it would promote community-based policing, while the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) opposed it, questioning the timing and credibility of the process.
Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, defended the bill, saying it was driven by national security concerns, not 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.
He added that consultations involved the executive, governors, state 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,” Bamidele said.
He urged opposition parties to offer constructive ideas, saying security should rise above partisan politics.
