Senate Passes Landmark State Police Bill, Approves Constitutional Framework For Decentralised Policing

 

 The Senate on Wednesday passed the landmark Constitution Alteration Bill seeking the establishment of state police across the federation, marking a historic step in Nigeria’s decades-long effort to decentralise policing and strengthen the country’s security architecture.

President Bola Tinubu had earlier transmitted the constitutional amendment bill to the Senate as part of broader efforts to reform Nigeria’s security architecture and create a legal framework for a dual policing system that would allow states to establish and operate their own police services alongside the Federal Police.

The bill, titled “A Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to Provide for the Establishment of State Police and Related Matters (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026 (SB. 1055),” scaled third reading after extensive deliberations and clause-by-clause consideration by lawmakers.

Its passage represents one of the most significant constitutional reforms undertaken by the National Assembly since Nigeria’s return to democratic rule in 1999 and comes amid growing concerns over persistent insecurity, including terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, armed robbery and communal violence across the country.

The legislation was approved during consideration by the Committee of the Whole, presided over by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, following the presentation of its general principles by Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele.

Under the proposed framework, the Federal Police Service will retain responsibility for federal offences, national security matters, security within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), interstate crimes and organised criminal activities.

State police services, on the other hand, will be responsible for local law enforcement, maintenance of public order and the protection of lives and property within their respective states.

The bill also establishes a constitutional basis for the creation of State Police Service Commissions, which will oversee recruitment, discipline, promotions and other administrative matters relating to state police formations.

In addition, the legislation outlines procedures for the appointment, discipline and removal of both the Inspector-General of Police and state police commissioners.

A key provision of the bill empowers governors to appoint Commissioners of Police for their respective states, subject to confirmation by the relevant State Houses of Assembly.

Under Clause 17 of the proposed amendment, while the Federal Police Service will continue to be headed by the Inspector-General of Police, each State Police Service shall be headed by a Commissioner of Police appointed by the governor and confirmed by the state legislature.

The bill further provides that governors may issue lawful written directives of a general policy nature to state police commissioners on matters relating to public safety and public order within their states.

To address concerns over possible abuse of state police by political authorities, lawmakers incorporated safeguards aimed at protecting civil liberties, political freedoms and democratic rights.

One of the provisions states that a state Commissioner of Police shall not arrest, detain, investigate or deploy force against any individual, political party or group merely for criticising a government, except in accordance with the law.

The provision is intended to prevent state police formations from being weaponised against political opponents, activists, journalists and dissenting voices.

The legislation also permits federal intervention in state police operations under limited circumstances, including a complete breakdown of public order, operational incapacity or threats to national security.

Proceedings leading to the passage of the bill witnessed a dramatic shift after the Senate abandoned plans to deploy electronic voting devices for consideration of the state police proposal and other constitutional amendment bills. 

The electronic voting system reportedly failed to function despite repeated attempts to activate it for more than 30 minutes. Following the technical difficulties, Bamidele moved a motion for the adoption of manual voting, arguing that no senator should be disenfranchised because of malfunctioning devices.

The motion was seconded by Senate Minority Leader, Abba Moro, and subsequently adopted by the chamber.

Senators thereafter voted manually by standing and raising their hands to indicate support or opposition to individual clauses of the bill.

The clause-by-clause consideration eventually secured the support of more than two-thirds of senators, paving the way for the bill's passage at third reading.

Several senior government officials witnessed the historic proceedings, including Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani; Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun; Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa; and the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila.

Earlier, the Senate suspended relevant rules to admit the governors and other senior officials into the chamber to observe deliberations on the proposal.

Akpabio described their presence as evidence of the importance attached to the legislation and a demonstration of transparency in the constitutional amendment process.

Leading debate on the bill, Bamidele said the legislation seeks to establish state police while retaining a strong federal police structure, national minimum policing standards, accountability mechanisms and safeguards against abuse.

According to him, the proposed reform would improve intelligence gathering, strengthen community policing and enhance responses to security threats at the grassroots.

During debate, lawmakers across party lines overwhelmingly supported the bill, arguing that Nigeria's current centrally controlled policing system has become overstretched and inadequate to address the country's increasingly complex security challenges.

Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe said worsening insecurity had convinced him of the need for extraordinary measures, although he stressed the importance of strong constitutional safeguards, sustainable funding mechanisms and effective oversight structures.

Former Sokoto State Governor, Senator Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, described state police as a necessary step towards deepening federalism and tackling persistent security threats, while cautioning against possible abuse by state authorities.

Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno also backed the proposal, noting that several states already operate quasi-policing structures such as the Civilian Joint Task Force and the Amotekun Corps, making constitutional recognition of state policing a logical progression.

Supporters of the legislation argue that decentralised policing will improve intelligence gathering, enhance rapid response to local threats, deepen community engagement and provide security agencies with better local knowledge needed to combat crime.

Critics, however, have continued to express concerns over funding disparities, operational coordination, oversight challenges and the possibility that state police could be misused by governors to intimidate political opponents or suppress dissent.

Despite those concerns, lawmakers maintained that the safeguards built into the bill would ensure professionalism, accountability and adherence to constitutional principles.

With the Senate's approval, the bill is expected to be transmitted to the House of Representatives for concurrence. If passed by the House, it will proceed to the 36 State Houses of Assembly, where it must secure the approval of at least two-thirds of the state legislatures before the constitutional amendment can take effect.