Reps To Vote On State Police Thursday
The House of Representatives is set to vote on a constitutional amendment bill seeking to establish state police on Thursday.
Deputy Speaker of the House, Benjamin Kalu, who also chairs the Constitution Review Committee, made this known on Wednesday in Abuja while addressing journalists.
He urged lawmakers to be present at Thursday’s plenary to take part in the decisive vote.
At present, policing and other security agencies are under the exclusive control of the Federal Government as provided in the Constitution.
However, the proposed amendment seeks to transfer provisions in Section 214(c) from the exclusive legislative list to the concurrent list, thereby allowing both the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly to legislate on policing and related security matters.
Kalu, speaking alongside members of the constitution review committee, said the legislature must use constitutional reforms to respond to rising insecurity and address gaps in the country’s security framework.
He added that while lawmakers would continue engagements with security chiefs, priority had shifted to structural reforms, particularly the creation of state police, which he said could improve response to security challenges.
“Hope is coming. By tomorrow, we will be amending the constitution by prioritising state police. We will vote on state police. Nobody is stopping it,” he said.
Calls for state police have intensified amid renewed insecurity across the country.
On Tuesday, the House of Representatives summoned service chiefs and the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, to brief lawmakers on the worsening security situation.
President Bola Tinubu had earlier, in December, expressed support for the idea, saying state police could strengthen internal security.
For the bill to pass, it must secure a two-thirds majority in both chambers of the National Assembly—at least 73 senators and 240 House members—before being approved by a simple majority of at least 24 of the 36 State Houses of Assembly.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
