The Presidency has confirmed that four states - Edo, Rivers, Osun, and Oyo - have approved the constitutional amendment bill seeking to provide legal backing for the establishment of state police. This development is a significant step towards implementing a dual policing model in Nigeria. The amendment requires approval by at least 24 state Houses of Assembly before it can proceed to the next stage of the constitutional process.
Nnadubem Moghalu, Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Planning and Research, disclosed this information in Abuja at the 2nd Annual Distinguished Parliamentary Award and Lecture Series. Moghalu, who is also the Secretary of the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill, explained that the constitutional amendment and the National Policing Bill are separate but complementary processes.
The constitutional amendment bill has been transmitted to the state Houses of Assembly for consideration, and Moghalu expressed optimism that the proposed reform will strengthen federalism and improve community safety. He noted that the National Policing Bill, being developed through consultations with stakeholders, will provide the operational framework for implementing state policing.
According to Moghalu, President Tinubu's decision to constitute the working group before the constitutional process was concluded was aimed at ensuring that Nigeria is prepared for the administrative, financial, and institutional requirements of state policing. The working group had invited memoranda from Nigerians through advertisements in national newspapers and broadcast stations in four major languages.
Moghalu revealed that the core of the National Policing Bill is settled, but declined to disclose individual provisions, saying Nigerians should examine the complete bill when it is transmitted to the National Assembly. The working group will submit a draft validated by the group and the Ministry of Justice to the President for consideration and transmission to the National Assembly.
The presidential aide stressed that the proposed reform must not replicate existing policing weaknesses across more institutions. He called for adequate funding, training, equipment, and welfare for police officers, emphasizing that legislation alone will not guarantee effective policing.
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu, expressed the Nigeria Police Force's commitment to supporting constitutional and legislative efforts aimed at strengthening law enforcement and improving community safety. Disu's representative at the event noted that robust and transparent discussions on state policing, community engagement, and decentralization are necessary for sustainable progress.
Key points
- Four Nigerian states have approved the constitutional amendment bill for state police.
- The amendment requires approval by at least 24 state Houses of Assembly to proceed.
- The National Policing Bill will provide the operational framework for implementing state policing.
