By Mercy Aikoye
The House of Representatives on Thursday passed the State Police Bill, marking a major milestone in Nigeria’s ongoing constitutional reform process and efforts to address the country’s security challenges.
The bill secured overwhelming support from lawmakers, with 289 members voting in favour, one voting against, and no abstentions recorded.
Before the vote, the House confirmed the attendance of 290 members, meeting the constitutional requirement of a two-thirds quorum of the 360-member chamber.
The legislation seeks to amend Sections 214 to 216 of the 1999 Constitution to provide for the establishment of state police and other related matters. Following its third reading, the bill was formally passed by the House.
The proposed amendment forms part of the broader constitutional review exercise currently being undertaken by the National Assembly. While voting on several other Constitution Alteration Bills was deferred, the State Police Bill was prioritised due to growing concerns over insecurity across the country.
The legislation is designed to create a decentralised policing framework that clearly defines the responsibilities of federal and state authorities in maintaining law and order.
Speaking after the passage of the bill, Speaker of the House, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, described the development as a significant step toward strengthening internal security.
“By passing this Bill, the House has taken a decisive constitutional step towards creating a policing framework that is more responsive to local realities while remaining firmly anchored within the unity and sovereignty of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he said.
The Speaker noted that security remains the foundation of nationhood and stressed the need for innovative approaches to addressing emerging security threats.
Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, who chairs the House Committee on Constitution Review, described the outcome as a reflection of strong national consensus on the need for security sector reforms.
According to him, the passage of the bill demonstrates the growing demand for a more effective and responsive policing system capable of addressing security challenges at the grassroots level.
The House said the bill contains provisions for coordination, oversight and accountability to ensure that state police operations are conducted within clearly defined constitutional and legal frameworks.
