The Kano State House of Assembly has passed a bill seeking to amend the 1999 Constitution to allow for the establishment of state police. This brings the total number of states that have passed the bill to 33. The bill was passed during a plenary session presided over by Speaker Isma'il Falgore, following consideration by the Committee of the Whole and approval at the third reading.
The passage of the bill in Kano leaves only three states yet to approve the proposed constitutional amendment. The development comes amid renewed calls for the decentralization of policing as Nigeria continues to grapple with security challenges, including banditry, kidnapping, terrorism, and communal violence. The proposed amendment is part of efforts to restructure the country's security architecture.
The 33 states that have passed the bill are from the six geopolitical zones, advancing the constitutional process for establishing state police. Under the proposed arrangement, state police services would operate alongside the Nigeria Police Force, with their respective powers, responsibilities, and jurisdictions defined by the amended Constitution and enabling legislation.
Proponents of decentralized policing argue that state-controlled police services could improve intelligence gathering, strengthen community-level policing, and reduce response times to security threats. However, the proposal has also raised questions about funding, accountability, political interference, and safeguards against the misuse of police powers.
The constitutional process for state police requires the support of at least two-thirds of the 36 State Houses of Assembly, in addition to the required approval by the National Assembly. With 33 states having passed the bill, the proposal has surpassed the 24-state threshold required for the state legislature stage of the constitutional amendment process.
In a separate decision, the Kano State House of Assembly approved a downward review of the state's 2026 supplementary budget, reducing the proposed expenditure from ₦1,477,829,666,130.71 to approximately ₦1.211 trillion. The reduction amounts to about ₦266.61 billion from the supplementary expenditure proposal submitted by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf.
The Kano State House of Assembly's approval of the bill and the supplementary budget reflects the government's efforts to address the state's security and financial challenges. The passage of the bill is expected to have a significant impact on the country's policing system, while the budget review aims to ensure efficient allocation of resources.
Key points
- The Kano State House of Assembly has passed the bill to establish state police, bringing the total number of states that have passed the bill to 33.
- The proposed amendment aims to restructure the country's security architecture by allowing state governments to establish their own police services alongside the Nigeria Police Force.
- The passage of the bill advances the constitutional process for establishing state police, but questions remain about funding, accountability, and safeguards against the misuse of police powers.
