State Police: National Assembly to transmit bill to State Assemblies

by · The Eagle Online

The National Assembly is set to transmit the Constitution Alteration Bill seeking the establishment of State Police Services to the 36 State Houses of Assembly.

The transmission of the bill marks the next constitutional phase in one of Nigeria’s most significant security reform initiatives.

Following its passage by the Senate, the proposed constitutional amendment now requires the approval of not less than two-thirds of the State Houses of Assembly before it can be forwarded to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for assent.

This will be in accordance with Section 9 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Publicity, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, disclosed that the necessary arrangements for transmission had been concluded, noting that state legislatures and governors were already expecting the bill after extensive consultations with key stakeholders.

The proposed legislation seeks to establish a dual policing structure that will empower states to establish and maintain their own police services while preserving the constitutional responsibilities of the Nigeria Police Force on matters of national security, including terrorism, border security, cybercrime, arms trafficking, and other federal offences.

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To safeguard against potential abuse, the bill incorporates robust constitutional provisions protecting fundamental human rights, prohibiting political persecution, and empowering the Federal Government to intervene where national security or public order is threatened.

The proposal has received broad support from governors, state legislatures, and stakeholders across the federation, reflecting growing national consensus on the need to strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture through community-based policing and enhanced sub-national security.

Upon ratification by at least 24 State Houses of Assembly, the Constitution Alteration Bill will be transmitted to President Tinubu for assent, paving the way for what could become one of the most consequential security reforms since Nigeria’s return to democratic governance in 1999.

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