BREAKING: House of Reps passes State Police Bill, Senate to concur

Politics

ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) — The House of Representatives has passed the State Police Bill, moving Nigeria a step closer to adopting a decentralised policing system aimed at strengthening security and addressing growing concerns over banditry, kidnapping, terrorism, and other violent crimes across the country.

The landmark legislation, which seeks to amend the 1999 Constitution (as amended), was approved during Thursday’s plenary session following extensive debate and clause-by-clause consideration by lawmakers.

Presiding over the session, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, described the passage of the bill as a significant milestone in the nation’s efforts to reform its security architecture and improve grassroots policing.

If eventually enacted, the proposed law will empower state governments to establish and operate their own police services alongside existing federal security structures.

Under the provisions of the bill, each state will be authorised to create a State Police Service, with operational guidelines to be developed in collaboration with the National Police Council and the Federal Police Service Commission.

The legislation also provides frameworks for recruitment, training, funding, discipline, oversight, and inter-agency coordination to ensure professionalism and prevent abuse of power.

Lawmakers who supported the bill argued that the current centralised policing system has struggled to effectively address Nigeria’s diverse and evolving security challenges, particularly in rural and remote communities.

They maintained that state policing would improve intelligence gathering, strengthen community engagement, and enable quicker responses to security threats.

Speaker Abbas said the legislation reflects years of public demand for a more responsive and community-based security system.

According to him, localised policing has become increasingly necessary in view of the security realities confronting different parts of the country.

The bill now proceeds to the Senate for consideration and concurrence before being transmitted to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for assent.

Should the proposal secure Senate approval and presidential assent, it would represent the first constitutional recognition of state policing since Nigeria’s return to democratic rule in 1999.