JUST IN: Representatives pass bill to create state police

The House of Representatives on Thursday passed a bill to create state police nationwide, marking a significant step in constitutional amendment.

The bill, entitled “A Bill to Amend the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to Provide for the Establishment of the State Police and Related Matters (Sixth Amendment) Bill, 2026,” was approved for consideration in the Committee of the Whole, headed by the Speaker of the House, Rt. Darling. Tajudeen Abbas.

Voting began after the Deputy Chairman and Chairman of the DPR Constitutional Review Committee, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, who presented a report on the proposal and garnered support from lawmakers, stressed the need for a more decentralized policing framework to effectively address the country’s growing security challenges.

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The exercise is done manually, with members raising their hands to indicate their position. At the end of the vote, 289 MPs voted in favor of the bill, one member abstained, while none voted against it. This reflects overwhelming bipartisan support for far-reaching reforms.

The proposed amendments aim to fundamentally restructure Nigeria’s police architecture by establishing Federal and State Police formations.

The bill stipulates that no state police formation may commence operations unless such formation is established by a law passed by the relevant State House of Assembly and certified as meeting the national minimum standards prescribed by an Act of the National Assembly.

This provision further states that until a state police force begins operations, the Federal Police will continue to exercise police powers and responsibilities in that state.

In an effort to preserve the autonomy of state police formations and prevent undue federal interference, the act limits federal intervention in state internal security affairs. Under the proposal, the Federal Police could only intervene if there is a breakdown of law and order, at the request of the governor, or if the state police are unable to function due to administrative, financial or other operational challenges.

The amendments also propose significant changes to police appointments and command structures.