Lawmakers suspend consideration of their own bill as President Tinubu’s executive proposal takes centre stage in efforts to establish state police in Nigeria.
The House of Representatives has withdrawn its independently sponsored State Police Bill to pave the way for consideration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s executive proposal on the establishment of state police in Nigeria.
The decision represents a significant shift in the legislative process, with lawmakers choosing to prioritise the President’s bill, which seeks to establish a constitutional framework for a dual policing system comprising the Federal Police Service and State Police Services.
The executive proposal is part of the Federal Government’s broader security reform agenda aimed at decentralising policing, strengthening intelligence gathering, and improving the capacity of states to tackle growing security challenges.
By withdrawing its own bill, the House is expected to streamline the legislative process and avoid duplication, allowing lawmakers to focus on a unified legal framework for state policing. If eventually passed by the National Assembly, the constitutional amendment will require the approval of at least two-thirds of the 36 State Houses of Assembly before it can be signed into law by the President.
The move comes amid renewed calls for the establishment of state police as a strategy to address insecurity across the country. While supporters argue that decentralised policing will enhance local security and faster response to crime, critics have continued to express concerns over the potential for political interference and funding challenges.
