State Police: Senate Passes Constitution Alteration Bill

Federal Government’s exclusive control of Nigeria policing system has ended with the passage by the Senate, of the Constitution Alteration Bill seeking to establish State Police across the Federation.

The bill, passed on Wednesday, followed a rigorous clause-by-clause consideration, with more than two-thirds of Senators voting in support through a manual voting process conducted on the floor of the chamber.

Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the passage, following overwhelming backing by lawmakers during plenary.

The upper chamber approved the legislation after considering the report of the Senate Committee on the Review of the Constitution, presented by Deputy Senate President and committee chairman, Barau Jibrin.

The provisions of the bill were first examined at the Committee of the Whole, after which lawmakers adopted them and proceeded to a final vote.

Debate on the legislation was led by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, who urged his colleagues to support what many described as a critical reform aimed at strengthening internal security and improving response to local threats.

The legislation seeks to establish a state policing framework that will operate concurrently with the existing federal police system, effectively ending the Federal Government’s exclusive control of policing.

A key provision of the bill “empowers state governors to appoint Commissioners of Police for their respective states, subject to confirmation by the State Houses of Assembly.”

Under Clause 17 of the proposed constitutional amendment, “while the Federal Police Service will continue to be headed by the Inspector-General of Police, each State Police Service shall be headed by a Commissioner of Police appointed by the governor and confirmed by the legislature of the state.”

The bill also defines the operational relationship between governors and state police commands.