Tinubu’s State Police Bill Heads For Fresh Debate In Reps Committee
Members of the House of Representatives Special Ad-hoc Committee on Constitution Review are expected to meet on Monday to deliberate on President Bola Tinubu’s proposed State Police Bill as the National Assembly continues work on far-reaching constitutional amendments.
The bill, which recently passed second reading in the House, seeks to establish a legal framework for creating state police services while prescribing national minimum policing standards across Nigeria.
The committee, chaired by the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, is expected to examine the 26-clause executive bill before presenting its report to the House for further legislative action.
The proposed legislation seeks to amend several provisions of the 1999 Constitution to create a dual policing system, allowing the Federal Police Service and State Police Services to operate alongside each other.
Under the proposal, states would be permitted to establish their own police services through laws passed by their respective Houses of Assembly.
However, such state police services can only begin operations after meeting national minimum policing standards and receiving the required certification.
The bill also provides for the establishment of State Police Service Commissions to oversee appointments, discipline and administration of personnel.
According to the Presidency, the proposed constitutional amendment is aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s security architecture while ensuring civilian oversight, respect for human rights, intergovernmental cooperation and federal intervention where necessary in cases of security breakdown or abuse.
The executive proposal further seeks to strengthen accountability by requiring a two-thirds Senate resolution before the President can remove the Inspector-General of the proposed Federal Police Service.
Similarly, a state governor would require the support of two-thirds of the State House of Assembly to remove a State Commissioner of Police.
The House had earlier reversed the passage of the bill to allow a conference committee to harmonise differences between both chambers before further legislative consideration.
Barring any last-minute changes, the Constitution Review Committee is expected to submit its report to the House when lawmakers resume plenary.
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