Senate begins deliberation on state police bill as governors, Gbajabiamila attend special session

ABUJA — The Senate on Wednesday commenced deliberations on a constitutional amendment bill seeking to establish state police across Nigeria, with top government officials, including the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, and several state governors in attendance at the National Assembly.

The special plenary session followed the transmission of an executive bill by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu proposing a decentralised policing framework aimed at addressing the country’s persistent security challenges, including banditry, kidnapping and insurgency.

The Senate, which reconvened lawmakers from its recess to consider the proposal, received the bill through a letter read by Senate President Godswill Akpabio. The legislation seeks to amend relevant sections of the 1999 Constitution to allow states to establish and operate their own police services alongside the federal police.

Under the proposed arrangement, the Nigeria Police Force would retain responsibility for national security, interstate crimes and other federal offences, while state police formations would focus on local security, community policing and crime prevention within their jurisdictions.

Speaking on the bill, President Tinubu said the reform was designed to strengthen security nationwide and improve the country’s ability to tackle criminal activities at the grassroots level. He also assured lawmakers that adequate constitutional safeguards had been included to prevent the misuse of state police by political authorities.

The presence of governors and senior government officials at the chamber underscored growing support for the proposal, which has long been advocated by state governments as a solution to the overstretching of federal security agencies.

Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele urged lawmakers to treat the issue as a national priority, stressing that the proposed amendment transcends political and regional interests.

The bill had earlier secured approval in the House of Representatives and must now obtain the support of at least two-thirds of senators before proceeding to state Houses of Assembly for ratification. For the amendment to become law, it must also be endorsed by no fewer than 24 state legislatures.

The Senate’s Constitution Review Committee, chaired by Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, is expected to oversee further consideration of the proposal as lawmakers continue work on broader constitutional reforms.

If passed, the legislation would mark one of the most significant changes to Nigeria’s security architecture since the return to democratic rule in 1999.