Bill on State Police passes second reading at House of Reps

A bill seeking to establish state police has passed second reading at the House of Representatives.

Sponsored by Benjamin Kalu, deputy speaker of the house, and 14 others, the bill proposes to transfer the term “police” in the 1999 constitution from the exclusive legislative list to the concurrent legislative list.

The bill, which comprises 18 clauses, seeks to amend sections 34, 35, 39, 42, 84, 89, 129 153, 197, 214, 215 and 216 of the constitution.

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Recall that Nigeria’s Federal Government and the 36 states on Thursday agreed on the need to establish state police to curtail issues bordering on insecurity across the country.

Briefing newsmen at the end of the meeting, Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said far reaching decisions were arrived at during the meeting including the consideration for the establishment of state police.

His words, “But now, there is also a discussion around the issue of state police. The federal government and state governments are mulling the possibility of setting up state police.