President Bola Tinubu has transmitted a Constitution Alteration Bill to the Senate seeking the establishment of state police across Nigeria, a move aimed at strengthening security and decentralizing law enforcement responsibilities.
ABUJA – President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has formally transmitted a Constitution Alteration Bill to the Senate, seeking legislative approval for the establishment of state police across Nigeria.
The proposed constitutional amendment represents one of the most significant security reforms in the country’s democratic history, as it seeks to decentralize policing powers and enable individual states to establish and manage their own police services.
The bill is expected to address growing concerns over insecurity in various parts of the country by allowing state governments to play a more direct role in maintaining law and order within their jurisdictions.
According to the proposal, policing would be moved from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent Legislative List, thereby granting states the constitutional authority to establish state police institutions. The amendment would also provide for the creation of State Police Service Commissions responsible for recruitment, training, promotion, discipline, and administration of personnel.
Supporters of the initiative argue that state police would improve intelligence gathering, enhance response times to security threats, and allow officers who understand local languages, cultures, and terrains to effectively tackle crime.
However, the proposal has also generated debate among stakeholders. Critics have raised concerns about the possibility of political interference by state governments, funding challenges, and coordination issues between federal and state security agencies.
The bill will now undergo legislative scrutiny in the Senate and must secure the approval of the National Assembly as well as endorsement by at least two-thirds of Nigeria’s State Houses of Assembly before it can become part of the Constitution.
Security experts and political observers have described the development as a landmark step in Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to reform its security architecture and address persistent security challenges.
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