The National Assembly Takes a Major Step Toward State Police
The National Assembly took a significant step toward the establishment of state police as both the Senate and House of Representatives demonstrated eagerness to amend the 1999 Constitution. This move aims to decentralise policing in Nigeria, addressing the worsening security challenges across the country.
On Thursday, the House of Representatives passed the proposed legislation. The bill was approved by 290 out of 360 members who attended the plenary session. The Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, announced that a faulty electronic system prevented voting via electronic means, urging all members to register their presence for the exercise.
The bill, sponsored by Kalu and 14 other lawmakers, had already passed the second reading on February 20, 2024. It seeks to transfer policing from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent Legislative List, empowering states to establish and control their own police formations. To achieve this, the bill proposes amendments to Sections 197, 214, and 215 of the 1999 Constitution.
Speaking at the end of the voting, Mr. Abbas stated, “In attendance for the exercise are 290 members, out of which 289 voted in favor of state police. One member voted against, and there’s no nay vote.” Before the commencement of voting, attendance was verified and confirmed at 290 members, satisfying the constitutional requirement of a two-thirds quorum of the 360-member House.
The bill, which contains 18 clauses, amended Sections 214–216 and other relevant provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As amended), was read for the Third Time and subsequently passed by the House. As a key component of the ongoing constitutional review process, it was prioritised for consideration and passage, while voting on other constitution alteration bills was deferred.
Security as the Foundation of Nationhood
Abbas emphasized that security is the foundation upon which every other aspiration of nationhood rests. He stated, “By passing this bill, the House has taken a decisive constitutional step towards creating a policing framework that is more responsive to local realities while remaining firmly anchored within the unity and sovereignty of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
Drama Before Voting
Shortly before the commencement of voting, a mild drama played out when the member representing Birnin Gwari/Giwa Federal Constituency of Kaduna State, Bashir Zubairu Usman, raised a Point of Order. He noted that the amendment to the 1999 Constitution was only made available to them on Thursday, arguing that they could not do justice to it without proper review. However, Abbas ruled him out of order, to the approval of the majority of the lawmakers present at plenary.
While Abbas was reading out the synopsis of the bill through Clauses one-18, loud voices screaming “Point of Order” could be heard from lawmakers, but the Speaker ignored them all.
Second Reading in the Senate
In the Senate, the bill passed second reading, marking a significant step in the parliament’s ongoing efforts to address the nation’s worsening security challenges. The proposed legislation, which enjoys broad support across party lines in the Red Chamber, was subsequently referred by the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, to the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution for further legislative scrutiny.
Leading the debate, Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, described the establishment of state police as a critical reform aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s internal security architecture amid growing concerns over the capacity of the Nigeria Police Force to effectively tackle emerging threats.
Benefits of Decentralised Policing
Bamidele argued that the establishment of state police would improve intelligence gathering, as local police officers are better equipped to obtain actionable intelligence from communities because they understand local languages, customs, and social structures. He also highlighted that modern policing relies heavily on intelligence rather than force.
Nigeria continues to grapple with a wide range of security challenges, including terrorism and violent extremism, banditry, mass abductions, farmer-herder conflicts, cultism, armed robbery, pipeline vandalism, communal clashes, and cyber-enabled crimes. The increasing complexity and localised nature of these threats have fuelled public calls for the creation of state police, as many Nigerians believe the country’s centralised policing structure can no longer adequately respond to security realities across the federation.
Safeguards and Concerns
Addressing concerns that state governors could abuse control of state police formations, Bamidele argued that the bill contains sufficient safeguards to prevent such excesses. These include the establishment of State Police Service Commissions, federal oversight through the Federal Police Service Commission, uniform national policing standards, and legislative confirmation of senior appointments.
He also argued that state police would facilitate quicker responses to security threats by eliminating bureaucratic bottlenecks associated with the current centralised command structure. Additionally, state police would promote community policing, foster stronger community partnerships, and relieve pressure on the Federal Police.
Key Provisions and Federal vs. State Police
One of the key highlights of the amendment is the alteration of Section 84 in sub-section 4 of the Constitution with the substitution of the Police Service Commission with the Federal Police Service Commission. Similarly, the Nigeria Police Council was replaced with the National Police Council. The words “Nigeria Police Force” are substituted for “Federal Police and State Police.”
Clause 12 of the bill amended Section 214 by providing a new Section 214 to establish the federal police and state police. It outlines the responsibilities of the National Assembly in prescribing the structure, organisation, administration, and powers of the Federal Police and providing the framework for the establishment of State Police.
Inspector General of Police and Commissioner of Police
Clause 13 of the amended bill altered Section 215 with a new Section to read about the appointment of the Inspector-General of Police and the Commissioner of Police of a State. It outlines the roles and responsibilities of these positions, ensuring accountability and compliance with legal directions.
Dismissal of IGP and State Police Commissioner
A new Section 216 proposes that an Inspector General of Police shall be removed by the President upon the recommendation of the National Police Council on specific grounds. A Commissioner of Police of a State shall only be removed by the Governor upon the recommendation of the National Police Council on similar grounds.
Arms Imports Surge in Nigeria
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s expenditure on arms importation rose sharply to N32.5bn in the first quarter of 2026, according to the latest data released by the National Bureau of Statistics. The figure represents a significant increase from the N22bn recorded in the corresponding period of 2025, reflecting a N10.5bn rise, or 48 per cent year-on-year growth.
Support and Opposition to State Police
Retired Assistant Inspector General of Police, Ali Amodu, expressed support for the establishment of state police, urging lawmakers to support its creation as part of efforts to address rising insecurity in the country. On the other hand, retired Commissioner of Police, Ladodo Rabiu, opposed the establishment of state police, citing financial, operational, and constitutional concerns.
Practical Framework for Security
The Special Adviser to the Sokoto State Governor on Security Matters, Col Ahmed Usman (retd), has described state police as one of the most effective solutions to Nigeria’s growing security challenges, urging policymakers to adopt a practical framework that leverages existing personnel and structures. He proposed the redeployment of serving police officers to their states of origin, arguing that their familiarity with local environments would make policing more effective.
