The 36 state Houses of Assembly in Nigeria have started considering a proposed constitutional amendment to establish state police services. The National Assembly transmitted the bill, titled A Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, to the state legislatures on September 16. The bill aims to provide for the establishment of state police services and related matters. According to the Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, the transmission was in accordance with Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
The Osun State House of Assembly has approved a resolution supporting the creation of state police. The resolution was adopted during plenary following a motion by the Majority Leader, Babajide Kofoworola. The Speaker, Adewale Egbedun, said the approved amendment should be forwarded to the National Assembly for consideration. The bill requires the concurrence of at least 24 state assemblies before the constitutional amendment process can be completed. Osun is among the first states to approve the proposal.
Several other state legislatures have begun consideration of the bill. The Zamfara State House of Assembly commenced consideration of the bill during plenary, presided over by Speaker Bilyaminu Isma’il Moriki. In Sokoto, the State House of Assembly conducted the First Reading of the bill on Tuesday. The Head of the Assembly’s New Media Unit, Aminu Abdullahi, said copies of the bill would be distributed to lawmakers for detailed study ahead of the Second Reading.
Some state assemblies have set up committees to consider the bill. The Bauchi State House of Assembly has constituted an ad hoc committee to examine the bill and make recommendations. The committee is chaired by Deputy Speaker Jamilu Ummaru Dahiru. The House gave the committee two weeks to examine the bill and report back. Other states, including Benue, Nasarawa, and Kogi, have confirmed receipt of the bill and are preparing for debate.
The Benue State House of Assembly confirmed receiving the bill and said it would be deliberated upon at its next sitting. In Nasarawa, Speaker Danladi Jatau said the House received the bill from the Clerk to the National Assembly last weekend and would lay it before members when plenary resumes next Monday. Jatau expressed optimism that the bill would be passed, citing the security challenges facing the country.
Some state legislatures are yet to receive the bill or schedule debate. The Rivers and Bayelsa state Houses of Assembly have not received the bill. In Borno, the State House of Assembly confirmed receipt of the bill but said no date had been fixed for deliberation. In Katsina, a lawmaker said the bill had been transmitted to the Assembly but was yet to be presented before members for deliberation.
The consideration of the state police bill is a significant development in Nigeria's security architecture. If passed, the bill will decentralize the nation's security architecture and bring policing closer to the people. The National Assembly urged state legislatures to respond within 30 days, although the Constitution does not prescribe a specific timeline. The outcome of the consideration of the bill by state legislatures will determine the next steps in the constitutional amendment process.
Key points
- The bill requires the approval of at least two-thirds of state Houses of Assembly to amend the Constitution.
- The National Assembly transmitted the bill to state legislatures on September 16.
- Osun State House of Assembly has approved a resolution supporting the creation of state police.
