Morganable Politics/Legislative affairs
The bill’s passage followed the House’s decision to withdraw its earlier constitutional amendment proposal on state police and instead adopt the executive bill transmitted by President Bola Tinubu last week.
kaNo —
The House of Representatives on Thursday passed the executive bill seeking to establish state police, marking a major milestone in Nigeria’s long-running effort to decentralise its policing system and address worsening insecurity across the country.
The bill, which seeks to amend the 1999 Constitution to allow for the creation of state-controlled police services alongside the Nigeria Police Force, was approved during plenary after lawmakers adopted the report of the House Committee on the Review of the Constitution.
Its passage brings Nigeria closer to adopting a dual policing structure, following the Senate’s earlier approval of a similar version of the legislation.
State Police Bill Passage Signals Legislative Consensus
The development signals growing legislative consensus on the need to restructure the country’s security architecture in response to rising cases of banditry, kidnapping, terrorism and other violent crimes.
The legislation, 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 Services and for Related Matters (HB. 2797),” was passed with the participation of 311 lawmakers.
The bill’s passage followed the House’s decision to withdraw its earlier constitutional amendment proposal on state police and instead adopt the executive bill transmitted by President Bola Tinubu last week.
Tinubu had explained in his communication to lawmakers that the executive proposal builds on previous legislative efforts while introducing additional safeguards designed to ensure accountability, operational efficiency and proper coordination within a dual policing system.
According to the President, the move is aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s internal security framework and enhancing the country’s ability to respond effectively to evolving threats.
As part of the legislative adjustments, the House rescinded its June 11, 2026 resolution on state police and dissolved the 12-member conference committee it had constituted on July 9 to harmonise earlier versions of the amendment.
The Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, who also chairs the Constitution Review Committee, presented the report that formed the basis for the bill’s adoption.
Opposition Stage Walkout
Tensions rose when the Speaker opted to put the bill to a voice vote rather than subjecting its 26 clauses to individual consideration, a move strongly opposed by members of the minority caucus.
The Minority Leader, Frederick Agbedi, repeatedly attempted to raise a point of order during the proceedings but was not recognised by the Speaker.
Instead, Abbas called for a voice vote, asking lawmakers in support of the bill to say “aye” and those against it to say “nay.” After declaring that the “ayes” had prevailed, the decision triggered protests from opposition lawmakers, who subsequently staged a walkout.
“A total of 276 honourable members signed the attendance register in support of the police bill while 35 more voted online. This brings the number of lawmakers in support of the state police bill to 311. What is required to pass a bill is two-thirds of our members, which is 240,” he said.
Speaking with journalists shortly after the protest, Agbedi clarified that the opposition was not against the establishment of state police but objected to the procedure adopted in passing the bill.
“Let it be stated that the minority caucus is not against state police. We are in support of anything that will bring about peace and security in Nigeria. All we are saying is that there should be a clause-by-clause consideration of the bill which the Speaker rejected,” he said.
Opposition Insist On Clause-By-Clause Review
The disagreement underscores lingering concerns about transparency and due process in the handling of critical constitutional amendments, even as lawmakers broadly agree on the need for reform.
Supporters of the reform contend that decentralising policing would enhance intelligence gathering, improve response times and strengthen community-based law enforcement by bringing security closer to the people.
They also argue that state governments, being closer to grassroots realities, are better positioned to understand and respond to unique security dynamics within their jurisdictions.
Over the years, state governors, traditional rulers, security experts and civil society organisations have consistently called for the establishment of state police as part of broader efforts to tackle insecurity.
However, the proposal has also faced significant opposition from critics who warn that state-controlled police forces could be misused by governors for political purposes.
Concerns have been raised that such powers could be deployed to intimidate political opponents, suppress dissent or influence electoral processes, particularly in a politically charged environment.
To address these fears, stakeholders have called for strong constitutional safeguards, including clear operational guidelines, institutional independence and robust oversight mechanisms to prevent abuse.
As a constitutional amendment, the bill must still secure the approval of at least two-thirds of state Houses of Assembly, equivalent to 24 states, before it can be fully enacted.
Analysts say the next phase of the process will be crucial in determining whether the long-debated reform will finally become a reality.
If successfully implemented, the introduction of state police could mark a significant shift in Nigeria’s security architecture, potentially improving law enforcement effectiveness and restoring public confidence in the country’s ability to tackle crime.
However, observers caution that the success of the initiative will depend largely on how well it is structured, regulated and managed to balance efficiency with accountability.
