ABUJA — The House of Representatives has passed a landmark constitutional amendment bill seeking to establish state police across the country, marking a major shift in Nigeria’s national security architecture.
The bill amends several sections of the 1999 Constitution to provide a legal framework for the creation, funding, regulation, and operation of state police services while retaining the federal police as a national institution.
Under the new provisions, state governors will receive the power to appoint commissioners of police, a role previously controlled strictly by the federal executive. The bill also mandates the creation of state police service commissions to oversee the discipline and welfare of local officers.
To address funding concerns, the legislation includes a clause allowing the federal government to provide financial grants to help states set up and maintain their respective police services.
Furthermore, the bill sets strict boundaries to limit federal interference in local policing operations, ensuring that state governments have the autonomy to manage immediate security challenges within their borders.
The bill will now move to the Senate for concurrence before being transmitted to the state houses of assembly for constitutional approval.
