Loading ...ABUJA, NIGERIA — The Nigerian Senate has commenced a historic, clause-by-clause manual vote on the proposed constitutional amendments to allow for the creation of state police services across the country.
The move follows an urgent appeal by Senate President Godswill Akpabio on Tuesday, urging lawmakers to ensure full attendance for what is widely considered one of the most consequential constitutional votes in Nigeria’s democratic history.
A Move to Decentralize Security
The Constitution Alteration Bill, which was officially transmitted to the National Assembly by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, seeks to provide a legal framework for a dual policing structure. If passed, it will effectively bring an end to decades of exclusive federal control over Nigeria’s internal security architecture.
Under the new arrangement, individual states will have the constitutional backing to establish, fund, and manage their own local police services to run parallel with the federal Nigeria Police Force (NPF).
Why Manual Voting?
Because a constitutional amendment requires a strict two-thirds majority of the entire house to pass, the Senate has resorted to a manual, individual vote on every clause to ensure absolute transparency and accurate recording of the statutory numbers.
Supporters of the bill argue that decentralized policing is the only viable remedy to the country’s relentless security threats, including banditry, kidnapping, and insurgencies. Conversely, critics continue to raise concerns that the law could empower state governors to misuse local police forces against political opponents.
Next Steps for the Bill
To successfully alter the 1999 Constitution, the bill must not only clear the Senate today with a two-thirds majority but must also be approved by at least 24 out of the 36 State Houses of Assembly across the federation before being sent back to President Tinubu for his final assent.
More details to follow as voting continues…
