Support for the proposed establishment of state police has continued to grow following the Senate’s approval of the constitutional amendment, with governors, state lawmakers, political groups and legislative bodies expressing confidence that the bill will strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture.
According to The Punch, the bill, which was passed by the Senate after a clause-by-clause consideration, now requires approval from at least 24 State Houses of Assembly before it can be transmitted to President Bola Tinubu for assent.
The proposed amendment has received endorsements from the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures in Nigeria, the Forum of Progressive Speakers, the Labour Party and several governors, who described state policing as a practical response to the country’s worsening insecurity.
Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, hailed the Senate’s action, describing it as a major milestone in efforts to improve public safety and protect lives and property.
“The passage of the bill is a courageous and timely step,” he said, adding that locally controlled policing would enhance intelligence gathering and improve responses to security threats.
In Delta State, Chairman of the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures, Emomotimi Guwor, said state assemblies were committed to giving the bill prompt consideration.
“As Speakers of the 36 State Houses of Assembly, we had earlier indicated our support for the proposed legislation because we believe that community-based policing, properly structured under law, will enhance safety and response time across our states. Security is local, and our people deserve policing architecture that understands their terrain and challenges,” Guwor said.
Several state assemblies, including those in Kano, Gombe, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Plateau and Ondo, also indicated their readiness to examine the bill, with many lawmakers describing it as a necessary reform to address terrorism, kidnapping, banditry and other security challenges.
The Labour Party also endorsed the proposal, urging governors and state legislators to support the amendment when it reaches the state assemblies.
“The Labour Party commends the National Assembly, particularly the Senate, for its courage, swiftness and sense of patriotism in passing the State Police Bill recently transmitted to it by President Bola Tinubu,” the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Ken Asogwa, said.
He noted that although concerns had been raised about possible abuse by state governors, constitutional safeguards contained in the bill would help promote accountability and prevent misuse of the proposed state police structure.
The amendment proposes a dual policing system comprising the Federal Police Service and State Police Services, with the federal police retaining responsibility for national security matters such as terrorism, cybercrime, arms trafficking and border protection, while state police would handle local law enforcement and public safety.
To guard against abuse, the bill bars governors from directing state police to target political opponents or individuals unlawfully and provides for federal intervention in cases involving threats to national security, human rights violations or breakdown of public order.
The proposal also seeks to expand the National Police Council by including representatives of the Nigerian Bar Association, Nigeria Labour Congress, National Human Rights Commission, retired senior police officers and attorneys-general of all 36 states to strengthen oversight and accountability.
Despite the growing support, the Peoples Redemption Party rejected the proposal, arguing that the current administration lacks the credibility to supervise such a major policing reform and calling for the initiative to be deferred until after the next general election.
If approved by at least two-thirds of the State Houses of Assembly, the constitutional amendment will be transmitted to President Tinubu for assent, paving the way for the establishment of state police services across the federation.
