The Senate has defended the passage of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Alteration) (State Police) Bill, 2026, maintaining that the proposed constitutional amendment is driven by the urgent need to tackle Nigeria’s worsening security challenges rather than political considerations.
In a statement issued on Sunday by the Directorate of Media and Public Affairs of the Office of the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele described the legislation as “a child of necessity and not of political expediency,” stressing that the proposal resulted from years of nationwide consultations and constitutional review.
The State Police Bill was approved by the House of Representatives on June 11, 2026, before receiving Senate approval on June 24, 2026, marking a major step towards the creation of a dual policing system in the country.
According to Bamidele, establishing state police has become a national priority that should not be politicised, especially in light of the country’s growing insecurity.
He explained that the proposal did not emerge overnight but evolved through several constitutional amendment processes and extensive stakeholder engagement.
“Observations have shown that Nigerians largely welcome the passage of the Bill with a conviction that it will significantly de-escalate the country’s security conditions at the sub-national level,” he said.
Bamidele noted that the proposal was initially submitted as part of memoranda received by the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution before undergoing comprehensive consultations across the country due to its sensitive nature.
National consultations shaped the bill
The Senate Leader disclosed that the National Assembly consulted widely with key stakeholders, including the Executive, the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures, and the leadership of the Nigeria Police.
He also revealed that public hearings held across the six geopolitical zones in July 2025 recorded overwhelming support for the establishment of state police.
“At each level of our consultation, nearly all stakeholders embraced the State Police Bill in the light of the stark realities we are facing today,” he stated.
Bamidele added that several recommendations made by the Nigeria Police were incorporated into the proposed amendment to strengthen accountability and create safeguards against abuse by political office holders.
According to him, the involvement of the police leadership further reinforced the importance of state policing in improving security at state and community levels.
Broad legislative support
The Senate Leader explained that lawmakers in both chambers thoroughly debated the proposal before its eventual passage.
“Even though the APC is the majority, there are members of opposition parties – PDP, ADC, NDC, and the Labour Party – that exercised their discretion in favour of the Bill, mainly in the national interest and not on a parochial basis,” he said.
He disclosed that 84 out of the 109 senators voted in support of the bill during clause-by-clause consideration, representing a 77.06 per cent approval rate in the Senate.
Bamidele argued that security should never become a partisan issue, describing it as “a collective public good that benefits citizens across ethnic, political, and religious divides”.
He urged opposition parties to contribute meaningful ideas that would strengthen national peace and security instead of politicising critical reforms.
“Even when they disagree on some grounds, they are under obligations to provide credible and useful ideas that can make our nation better and greater. Unfortunately, they have not passed this critical test of opposition democracy,” he said.
What the State Police Bill proposes
The constitutional amendment has now been transmitted to the 36 State Houses of Assembly, where it must secure approval from at least 24 state legislatures before it can be forwarded to President Bola Tinubu for presidential assent.
If ratified, the legislation will establish a dual policing framework comprising a Federal Police Service and separate State Police Services.
Under the proposed arrangement, the Federal Police will continue to handle matters relating to national security, terrorism, cybercrime, and interstate offences, while state police formations will be responsible for local policing and public safety within their respective states.
The bill also includes measures designed to prevent political interference. Governors will appoint State Commissioners of Police, subject to confirmation by their respective State Houses of Assembly, while any removal must first be recommended by the National Police Council and approved by a two-thirds majority of the state legislature.
Each state will also establish a State Police Service Commission to oversee recruitment, promotions, and disciplinary matters. In addition, no State Police Service will commence operations until it has been certified by the National Assembly as meeting nationally prescribed operational standards.
Although the bill has received strong support in the National Assembly, it must still be ratified by at least two-thirds of the State Houses of Assembly before becoming law.
Discover more from LN247
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
