By Mercy Aikoye
The House of Representatives has begun clause-by-clause consideration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Executive Bill seeking to establish State Police, with indications that lawmakers may adopt the Senate’s version of the proposed constitutional amendment to speed up its passage.
The move signals growing cooperation between both chambers of the National Assembly to fast-track one of the administration’s flagship constitutional reform initiatives aimed at overhauling Nigeria’s internal security architecture.
Speaking at the House Committee on Constitution Review meeting on Monday, the Deputy Speaker and Chairman of the Constitution Review Committee, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, said the committee would use the Senate-passed version of the bill as its working document, making only necessary adjustments before presenting its recommendations to the House.
He explained that the committee’s task was to scrutinise the Executive Bill clause by clause while leveraging the work already completed by the Senate to avoid duplication and accelerate the constitutional amendment process.
“The Senate has already considered and adopted the bill with certain amendments, and copies of that version have been circulated to members. This document will serve as our working draft throughout this exercise,” Kalu said.
According to him, the Executive Bill is substantially similar to the version previously considered by the House, with only minor modifications, including new interpretation, transitional and saving provisions to facilitate the implementation of a State Police system.
He also disclosed that the Senate introduced about eight additional amendments, which the House committee would examine for possible adoption.
Earlier, the House had passed its own Constitution Alteration Bill on State Police on June 11. However, lawmakers later rescinded that decision on July 14 after President Tinubu transmitted an Executive Bill on the subject to the National Assembly.
Kalu said the decision was taken to enable the House consider the President’s proposal, noting that the Executive was best placed to present a comprehensive framework capable of addressing Nigeria’s worsening security challenges.
“You may recall that the House considered and passed the Police Constitution Alteration Bill before the recess. Following the introduction of the Executive Bill by the President, that decision was reversed to allow consideration of the Executive proposal,” he said.
He noted that the bill had already passed first and second readings in the House, while stakeholder consultations held during the National Assembly Open Week effectively satisfied the public hearing requirement.
Describing State Police as one of President Tinubu’s signature constitutional reform initiatives, Kalu said the President had consistently advocated a multi-layered policing structure since his tenure as Governor of Lagos State.
He added that both the Executive and Legislature were united in pursuing the shared national objective of improving security across the country.
“As we have always argued, although we are three arms of government, we are one government. There is a national objective, and all we do is align ourselves with it, especially when that objective is in the best interest of Nigerians,” he said.
Kalu explained that the committee convened outside the House’s normal legislative sitting days because of the urgency attached to the proposed constitutional amendment.
He expressed confidence that the close collaboration between the House and Senate would ensure the speedy conclusion of legislative work on the bill and facilitate prompt presidential assent once transmitted to the President.
If eventually passed by the National Assembly and approved by the required number of state Houses of Assembly, the legislation will amend the Constitution to establish a multi-tier policing system designed to strengthen security operations and improve responses to local security challenges across the federation.
