NEWS
House of Representatives Passes State Police Bill Amid Escalating Security Challenges
The House of Representatives has taken a significant step toward restructuring Nigeria’s security architecture, passing a constitutional amendment bill seeking to establish state police across the federation.
The landmark legislation, which forms part of the ongoing constitutional review process, was prioritized by lawmakers in response to the growing security concerns confronting the nation, including terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and other violent crimes that have continued to threaten lives and livelihoods across various regions.
Ahead of the crucial voting session, the leadership of the House directed all members who were away on oversight assignments to immediately return to Abuja. The move was aimed at ensuring the chamber met the constitutional requirements necessary for voting on amendments to the nation’s supreme law.
The bill, formally titled “A Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 to Provide for the Establishment of State Police, and for Related Matters (Sixth Alteration) 2026,” is sponsored by Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu; House Leader, Hon. Julius Ihonvbere, Hon. Fatima Talba, Hon. Blessing Onuh, Hon. Tolani Shagaya, alongside several other lawmakers.
Speaking on the development, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, who also serves as Chairman of the House Committee on Constitution Review, disclosed that the Green Chamber deliberately chose to prioritize the issue of decentralized policing above several other constitutional amendment proposals currently before the National Assembly.
According to him, the worsening security situation across the country necessitated urgent legislative intervention, making the creation of state police a matter of national importance.
Under the existing constitutional arrangement, policing remains exclusively under the control of the Federal Government through the Nigeria Police Force, as law enforcement is listed on the Exclusive Legislative List. This framework prevents state governments from establishing independent police organizations.
However, with the passage of the amendment by the House of Representatives, policing responsibilities would be transferred to the Concurrent Legislative List, thereby empowering state governments to establish, finance, regulate, and manage their own police formations within their respective jurisdictions.
The proposed reform has long been a subject of national debate, with supporters arguing that state police will enhance intelligence gathering, improve community-based policing, and enable quicker responses to local security threats. Opponents, however, have often raised concerns about potential abuse by state governments and the possibility of political interference.
The passage of the bill by the House marks a major milestone in Nigeria’s constitutional reform journey and signals a growing consensus among lawmakers on the need to adopt new strategies to tackle the country’s complex security challenges.
Political observers believe the development could fundamentally reshape Nigeria’s policing structure if it successfully completes the remaining legislative and constitutional processes required for implementation. :::