The Senate will this week begin consideration of constitutional amendments aimed at paving the way for the establishment of state police, in what lawmakers describe as a decisive step toward addressing the country’s growing security challenges.
Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, disclosed on Monday that the National Assembly had resolved to fast-track the proposed amendment to the 1999 Constitution and transmit it to the 36 State Houses of Assembly for ratification.
Bamidele, in a statement issued by the Senate Directorate of Media and Public Affairs, said there is now broad consensus among key stakeholders across the federation on the need to create state police as part of efforts to strengthen internal security and improve law enforcement at the sub-national level.
According to him, the proposal enjoys the support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, state governors, state legislatures and other critical stakeholders involved in the constitutional review process.
“Our position is very clear on state police. We are standing with Nigerians on the issue of state police. All strata of the federation have made it clear that there cannot be a better time to establish state police than now,” Bamidele said.
He explained that the National Assembly had decided to separate the state police proposal from other constitutional amendment bills to accelerate its passage, citing the urgency of the country’s security situation.
“We came to the conclusion that we are going to pass the constitutional amendment in this respect to make provision for state police. If I can tell you as of today, that will come to fruition this very week because there is no need for any further delay,” he stated.
The Senate Leader revealed that extensive consultations had taken place between the National Assembly and key government institutions, including the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President, security agencies and constitutional review committees of both chambers of the legislature.
He specifically referenced a series of meetings involving the Deputy Senate President and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Constitution Review, Senator Barau Jibrin, and the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and Chairman of the House Constitution Review Committee, Benjamin Kalu.
According to Bamidele, once passed by the National Assembly, the proposed amendment will be transmitted to the 36 state legislatures, where it must secure the approval of at least two-thirds of the assemblies before being forwarded to President Tinubu for assent.
“The bill can be on its way to the 36 State Houses of Assembly as soon as possible because we will need two-thirds of the state assemblies to approve it before the President can assent to it,” he said.
Nigeria currently operates a centralised policing structure under Section 214(1) of the 1999 Constitution, which establishes a single national police force known as the Nigeria Police Force.
The push for state police has gained momentum in recent years amid growing concerns over insecurity, with advocates arguing that decentralised policing would improve intelligence gathering, enhance local accountability and strengthen community-based security responses.
Bamidele expressed confidence that the amendment would receive the necessary support from both the states and the Presidency, noting that momentum for the reform had reached an unprecedented level.
His remarks came days after Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, disclosed that consultations on the constitutional framework for state police were nearing completion and that President Tinubu would soon receive a comprehensive report on the proposal.
If approved, the amendment would mark one of the most significant constitutional and security reforms since Nigeria’s return to democratic rule in 1999.
