JUST IN: Reps pass state police bill
The House of Representatives on Thursday passed the Executive Bill seeking to establish state police, marking a major milestone in Nigeria’s efforts to decentralise its policing system and strengthen internal security.
The bill was passed during plenary after the House withdrew its earlier constitutional amendment proposal on the establishment of state police and adopted the Executive Bill instead.
The development follows the Senate’s earlier approval of its version of the legislation, bringing Nigeria closer to adopting a dual policing system that would empower states to establish and operate their own police services alongside the Nigeria Police Force.
The proposed legislation is expected to enhance grassroots policing, improve intelligence gathering, strengthen community security, and enable state governments to respond more effectively to local security challenges.
The passage of the bill by both chambers of the National Assembly represents a significant step in the ongoing constitutional reform process. The harmonised version of the legislation is expected to be transmitted for further legislative procedures before being forwarded for presidential assent.
The move comes amid sustained calls by governors, security experts, civil society groups and other stakeholders for the creation of state police as a strategy to address rising insecurity across the country.
Further details are expected.