The House of Representatives has passed the constitutional alteration bill seeking to establish state police after 311 lawmakers voted in support of the proposal, meeting the constitutionally required two-thirds majority.
However, the passage sparked protests from members of the minority caucus, who staged a walkout, alleging that due process was not followed during consideration of the bill.
The Deputy Speaker, who is the chairman of the House Committee on Constitution Review, Mr. Benjamin Kalu, led the consideration of the report and urged members to support the bill.
The House then proceeded to electronic and virtual voting on the bill.
While 311 members of the House voted in favour of the bill, meeting the two-thirds majority required for a constitutional alteration, the minority caucus disagreed with the procedure adopted for the passage of the bill.
Led by the Minority Leader, Mr. Fred Agbedi, the opposition members staged a walkout.
Following this, the minority caucus addressed a news conference, stating its support for the bill but pointing out what it described as breaches of the Constitution and the Standing Orders of the House.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the House Committee on Defence, Mr. Babajimi Benson, defended the process.
The House also passed a bill to establish the Federal College of Fisheries Technology and Marine Engineering in Rivers State.
It adjourned plenary to September 15, 2026.
Grassroots Policing
The passage of the bill by the lower chamber came four weeks after the Senate passed the bill.
With the passage by the National Assembly, the legislation replaces the existing Nigeria Police Force framework with a dual structure comprising a Federal Police Service and State Police Services.
A key provision of the bill empowers state governors to appoint commissioners of police for their respective states, subject to confirmation by the Houses of Assembly.
The bill also defines the operational relationship between governors and state police commands. Section 17(6) provides that “a governor may issue lawful written directives of a general policy nature to the Commissioner of Police on matters relating to the maintenance of public safety and public order within the state”.
To allay fears of possible abuse of the proposed policing structure, the senators incorporated safeguards aimed at protecting political freedoms and civil liberties.
Section 17(7) specifically states that “a state Commissioner of Police shall not arrest, detain, investigate or deploy force against any person, political party or group merely for criticizing the government except in accordance with the law”.
The provision is designed to prevent state police formations from being used against political opponents, activists, journalists and other dissenting voices, while ensuring that any action taken complies with due process and existing legal provisions.
President Bola Tinubu had transmitted the bill to the lawmakers, seeking the establishment of state police as part of efforts to reform Nigeria’s security architecture.
Tinubu explained that the bill is designed to provide a legal framework for a dual policing structure, allowing states to establish and operate their own police services alongside the federal police.
He said the proposed amendment was a critical component of ongoing efforts to reorganise the country’s policing system, enhance security and better protect citizens.
The passage by the two chambers further advances the Federal Government’s efforts to create a workable framework for state police to improve internal security, strengthen grassroots intelligence gathering and enhance capacity to respond to emerging threats.
