Senate Passes State Police Bill Today
The Senate has passed the Constitution Alteration Bill seeking to establish state police across Nigeria, marking a significant milestone in the country’s efforts to tackle growing security challenges through a decentralized policing system.
The landmark bill was approved after a detailed clause-by-clause review and secured the support of more than two-thirds of senators through a manual voting process conducted during plenary. Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the passage of the legislation following overwhelming backing from lawmakers.
The bill was considered based on the report presented by Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, who also chairs the Senate Committee on the Review of the Constitution. Senators first examined the provisions at the Committee of the Whole before adopting them and proceeding to a final vote.
Leading the debate, Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, urged lawmakers to support what many described as a crucial reform designed to improve security operations and enhance responses to local threats across the country.
The proposed amendment seeks to create a state policing structure that will operate alongside the existing federal police system. If fully implemented, it will end the Federal Government’s exclusive control over policing and grant states greater authority in maintaining law and order.
One of the major provisions of the bill empowers state governors to appoint Commissioners of Police for their respective states, subject to confirmation by state Houses of Assembly. While the Federal Police Service will continue to be headed by the Inspector-General of Police, each state police command will have its own commissioner responsible for security operations within the state.
The legislation also outlines how governors and state police commissioners will work together. Governors will be allowed to issue lawful directives relating to public safety and order, while commissioners will be expected to implement such directives within the confines of the law.
To address concerns that state police could be misused for political purposes, the Senate included safeguards aimed at protecting democratic rights and civil liberties. The bill specifically prohibits state police authorities from arresting, detaining, investigating, or deploying force against individuals, political parties, or groups solely for criticizing the government, except where permitted by law.
The Senate adopted manual voting after abandoning plans to use an electronic voting system due to technical concerns. Lawmakers argued that manual voting would ensure that every senator participated in the historic decision and promote transparency by making individual votes public.
Several top government officials witnessed the proceedings, including the governors of Kaduna State, Ogun State and Ondo State, as well as the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu.
The passage of the State Police Bill is regarded as one of the most far-reaching constitutional reforms undertaken by the 10th National Assembly. If it receives the required approvals from state Houses of Assembly and completes other constitutional processes, it could fundamentally transform Nigeria’s security architecture.
Supporters of state policing have long argued that the current centralized police system is overstretched and unable to effectively combat terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, communal conflicts, and other security threats. However, critics continue to warn that governors could abuse state police powers to target political opponents.
With the Senate’s approval, Nigeria has moved a step closer to establishing state-controlled police services that would operate alongside the federal police force, a development many believe could reshape the nation’s approach to security.
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