The House of Representatives has taken a significant step towards restructuring Nigeria’s security architecture after approving a constitutional amendment bill seeking the creation of state police across the country.
The bill scaled through during plenary on Thursday, following a vote by lawmakers in the green chamber.
Proceedings briefly witnessed a disagreement before deliberations began, as Usman Zubairu, who represents Birnin Gwari/Giwa Federal Constituency of Kaduna State, urged lawmakers to be given more time to thoroughly examine the report.
“It is an issue that all of us have to sit down and look into it,” Zubairu said.
However, Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, cut in, insisting that the proposal had already received extensive debate and consideration.
Presenting the report, Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, who also chairs the House Committee on Constitution Review, argued that tackling insecurity remains a pressing national priority.
Kalu noted that the proposal had gone through public hearings and received widespread support from stakeholders across the country.
“There is a national consensus that state police will improve response time. We should make this constitution review a legacy,” he said.
Before voting commenced, Abbas informed lawmakers that the electronic voting system was unavailable, necessitating a manual count.
Members subsequently voted through a show of hands, with the Sergeant-at-Arms directed to conduct the headcount.
The process sparked objections from some lawmakers, who repeatedly shouted, “This is wrong,” as the counting progressed.
Announcing the result, Kalu disclosed that 289 lawmakers supported the bill while four opposed it. Abbas later clarified the figures, stating that 289 members voted in favour, one abstained, and none voted against the proposal.
Under the current constitutional arrangement, policing and other security services established by law fall exclusively under the authority of the Federal Government.
The proposed amendment seeks to move policing powers from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent Legislative List, allowing both the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly to legislate on policing and related security matters.
If eventually enacted, the National Assembly will be responsible for determining the structure, administration, organisation and powers of the federal police, while also setting the framework and minimum requirements for establishing state police formations.
The bill further stipulates that no state police outfit can begin operations unless it is created through legislation passed by the relevant State House of Assembly and certified as meeting national standards prescribed by an Act of the National Assembly.
It also provides that the federal police will continue to operate in any state until a state police force becomes fully functional. Even after state police formations commence operations, the federal police will retain responsibility for federal policing duties and may assist state police when required by law.
The proposed legislation assigns the federal police responsibility for maintaining public safety, preserving law and order, and protecting lives and property throughout the federation in line with constitutional provisions and Acts of the National Assembly.
In addition, federal police officers may carry out duties within states where permitted by the Constitution.
The bill, however, restricts federal authorities from interfering in the affairs of state police except under specific conditions, including a complete breakdown of law and order beyond the capacity of a state police force, a formal request for intervention by a governor, or situations where a state police organisation becomes unable to function due to administrative, financial or operational challenges.
Any federal intervention must receive the approval of the National Police Council.
The proposal also makes it clear that the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) will remain under the jurisdiction of the federal police.
