Senate Moves to Fast-Track State Police Bill

The Senate has indicated plans to prioritise constitutional amendments that would pave the way for the establishment of state police across Nigeria, with the proposal expected to be forwarded to the 36 State Houses of Assembly for consideration once passed by the National Assembly.

This was disclosed by the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, in a statement released on Monday through his Directorate of Media and Public Affairs. According to him, there is broad consensus among key stakeholders nationwide on the need to create state police.

Bamidele noted that the National Assembly intends to separate the state police proposal from the wider constitutional amendment process in order to accelerate its passage, citing the urgency of the nation’s security challenges.

He further stated that President Bola Tinubu, state governors, and other stakeholders are aligned with the legislature on the initiative.

According to the Senate Leader, the legislative week commencing on Tuesday will be particularly significant, as deliberations on state police are expected to dominate proceedings in the upper chamber.

Nigeria’s current constitutional framework, specifically Section 214(1) of the 1999 Constitution, provides that: “There shall be a Police Force for Nigeria, which shall be known as the Nigeria Police Force.”

Speaking on the proposed reform, Bamidele said:

“Our position is very clear on state police. We are standing with Nigerians on the issue of state police. All strata of the federation have made it clear that there cannot be a better time to establish a state police than now.

“That is where we stand. Where we are coming in is to now help translate this popular desire of the people into reality as elected representatives of the Nigerian people.

“We came to the conclusion that we are going to pass the constitutional amendment in this respect to make a provision for the state police.

If I can tell you as of today, that will come to fruition this very week because there is no need to allow any further delay

“There have been a series of meetings between the National Assembly. When I say the national assembly, I mean Chairman, Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, Senator Barau I. Jibrin and Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, both of whom are representing the National Assembly.

“They had been in a series of meetings with the office of Attorney-General, Chief of Staff to the President, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila; Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Tunji Disu and other stakeholders in the last one week and that is why I can sit here to tell you that we’re pursuing that this week.

“It is going to be the subject we will be dealing with this week. What we have resolved to do is to isolate it with the rest of the bills that we have proposed under constitutional amendment so that we can vote on this as soon as possible.

“The bill can as well be on its way to the 36 States House of Assemblies as soon as possible because you know we will need two-third of the state assemblies to approve it before the president can assent to it.

“The president is also with us on this proposal. I am sure he cannot wait for the bill to come to him for assent. I am sure the majority of our governors as we know are in support of this bill. The state assemblies are also waiting for this bill to come. We will initiate the proposal for the creation of state police within the week.”

Also lending support to the development, Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, recently revealed that President Tinubu is expected to receive a comprehensive report on the proposed state police framework, as consultations on the constitutional and operational structure for its implementation are nearing completion.