The Nigerian Senate has announced that it will transmit the bill seeking to establish State Police Services to President Bola Tinubu on November 11. Senate President Godswill Akpabio made this disclosure during a plenary session. The bill has garnered support from 30 states, surpassing the constitutional threshold of 24 states. Akpabio's announcement came after the Senate leader, Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, read out the names of the supporting states.
The 30 states that have concurred to the proposal through their Houses of Assembly are Adamawa, Akwa – Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Borno, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, and Gombe states. Others include Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, and Zamfara states. This development marks a significant milestone in the constitutional amendment process.
However, six states have not yet concurred to the proposal. Oyo, Cross River, Abia, Niger, Benue, and Kano states are expected to communicate their positions within the next one week. Senate Leader Bamidele emphasized that the constitutional amendment process involves three distinct stages: passage by the National Assembly, approval by at least two-thirds of the state legislatures, and presidential assent.
Bamidele expressed optimism that the remaining states would communicate their decisions before the deadline. He noted that the approvals received so far represent more than the constitutionally stipulated threshold of 24 states. The Senate is now awaiting the responses of the outstanding states.
Senate President Akpabio has urged the Senate Leader to establish a definite timeframe for the outstanding states to communicate their positions. Akpabio emphasized the need for the National Assembly to know whether the remaining states support or reject the proposed constitutional alteration.
The state police bill aims to establish State Police Services, which would operate under the supervision of the state governments. The bill has been a subject of debate, with proponents arguing that it would enhance security and allow for more effective policing at the state level.
The Senate's decision to transmit the bill to President Tinubu comes after the National Assembly fulfilled the constitutional requirements. The President will now consider the bill for assent, which would bring the State Police Services into being. The implementation of the state police is expected to have significant implications for Nigeria's security architecture.
Key points
- The Nigerian Senate will transmit the state police bill to President Tinubu on November 11.
- 30 Nigerian states have concurred to the proposal, surpassing the constitutional threshold.
- Six states, including Oyo, Cross River, and Kano, have not yet endorsed the bill.
